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Antonio Franklin, a 47-year-old Milwaukee County man, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for running a wire fraud scheme that scammed nearly $300,000 in government benefits. The scheme, which lasted from January 2020 to March 2025, involved Franklin failing to disclose a bank account with over $1 million in transactions to the United States Social Security Administration and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.
Franklin received benefits from three government programs: Title XVI disability benefits, Wisconsin Supplemental Security Income, and ‘I Respect, I Self-Direct’ (IRIS) benefits. However, he failed to report his bank account and the significant income it generated, making him ineligible for the benefits he received.
The sentencing hearing took place on July 31, 2026, before United States District Judge J.P. Stadtmueller, who emphasized the need to deter others from committing similar crimes. In addition to the prison sentence, Franklin was ordered to pay restitution for the benefits he unlawfully received.
The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, with First Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad Schimel stating that federal law enforcement authorities have a high priority on uncovering and stopping fraud and incarcerating those who commit it.
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Defendant: Wisconsin
- Location: WI
- Source: DOJ Press Release
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