Valentino Valeriu Agignoae, Wire Fraud, Illinois 2007

Rockford, IL – A local man has been charged with swindling the government out of thousands in Social Security disability insurance funds, authorities announced this week.

Valentino Valeriu Agignoae, 50, of Lakewood, has been indicted on two counts of wire fraud, one count of stealing Social Security disability insurance funds that he and his dependents were not entitled to, and four counts of making false statements or concealing facts with the intent to fraudulently secure Social Security benefit payments.

According to the indictment, Agignoae began receiving Social Security disability insurance benefits in 1996, which were paid via direct deposit to his bank account. However, from approximately January 2007 through April 2015, Agignoae allegedly schemed to defraud the U.S. Social Security Administration by failing to notify them that he was managing Valentino’s Club Café in Chicago, despite knowing he was required to do so.

The misrepresentations and concealment of facts allegedly caused the U.S. Government, through the Social Security Administration, to suffer losses of approximately $157,503 in the form of monthly disability insurance payments to Agignoae and his dependents, to which he was not entitled.

The indictment further alleges that each count of wire fraud carries a maximum potential penalty of up to 20 years in prison, stealing disability insurance funds carries a maximum potential penalty of up to 10 years in prison, and each count of making a false statement or concealing facts for use by the Social Security Administration in determining rights to Social Security disability insurance benefits payments carries a maximum potential penalty of up to 5 years in prison.

Additionally, each count also carries a fine of up to $250,000, and full restitution. If convicted, the court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal sentencing statutes and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines.

Agignoae is scheduled to appear for arraignment in Rockford before U.S. Magistrate Judge Iain D. Johnston on a date yet to be determined.

The public is reminded that an indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

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