Marques Fountain, Social Security Fraud, Delaware 2022

WILMINGTON, Del. – A Seaford man was sentenced yesterday to 30 days imprisonment followed by 3 years of supervised release for defrauding the Social Security Administration (“SSA”) of nearly $150,000 through a scheme that lasted more than a decade.

According to court documents, Marques Fountain, 42, collected another man’s SSA retirement benefits after the beneficiary died. The man, for whom Fountain served as a caretaker, passed away in 2009. The SSA, however, continued to deposit the deceased man’s SSA retirement benefits into a bank account controlled by Fountain.

For more than a decade, Fountain accessed and used these SSA retirement benefits for his personal expenses. After admitting that he knew stealing the money was wrong, Fountain pleaded guilty in October 2021.

Mandatory Facts:

Defendant: Marques Fountain, 42-year-old Seaford man

Criminal Charges: Defrauding the Social Security Administration

City and State: Seaford, Delaware

Exact Date: Yesterday (no specific date given)

Sentence or Outcome: 30 days imprisonment followed by 3 years of supervised release

Dollar Amounts: $150,000

The sentence was pronounced by Chief U.S. District Judge Colm F. Connolly. U.S. Attorney David C. Weiss stated, “Social Security Administration benefits provide much needed assistance to the most vulnerable members of our society. Mr. Fountain spent a decade stealing from the federal government. Thanks to the work of the SSA Office of the Inspector General, Fountain will now spend time in federal prison and be required to pay full restitution to the government.”

Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher R. Howland prosecuted the case, which was investigated by SSA’s Office of the Inspector General.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 20-cr-82-CFC.

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