James Michael West, Concealment Of A Material Fact, Oklahoma 2023

Tahlequah man convicted of concealing material fact, faces up to 5 years imprisonment and $250,000.00 fine.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – James Michael West, age 64, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, has been convicted of Concealment Of A Material Fact, in violation of Title 42, United States Code, Section 408(a)(4), punishable by not more than 5 years imprisonment, and up to a $250,000.00 fine or both.

The crime of concealment of material fact occurred from on or about July 14, 2005, and continuing through December 31, 2016, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma and elsewhere. Defendant James Michael West, in a matter within the jurisdiction of Social Security Administration, concealed and failed to disclose an event affecting his right to receive or continue to receive Social Security Disability Income payments with the intent to fraudulently secure payment when no payment was authorized.

Specifically, defendant James Michael West intentionally concealed that he secured gainful employment in order to receive and continue to receive Disability Income payments made by the Social Security Administration to him. By such action, defendant James Michael West took approximately $266,982.00 in Social Security Disability Income payments to which he was not entitled.

The charge arose from an investigation by the Social Security Administration's Office of Inspector General.

The Honorable Steven P. Shreder, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Muskogee, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.

Assistant United States Attorney Rob Wallace represented the United States.

Defendant James Michael West will face up to 5 years imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000.00 for his conviction.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edok/pr/tahlequah-man-pleads-guilty-concealment-material-fact