PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – In a stunning betrayal of the very system designed to support vulnerable citizens, David James Massey, 39, from Pace, Florida, has pleaded guilty in federal court to stealing over $118,000 in Social Security Disability benefits. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
According to U.S. Attorney Heekin, ‘Social Security Disability benefits are meant to support our elderly and disabled citizens, but Massey used these funds to line his own pockets. Our office is committed to returning taxpayer dollars to the American people and ensuring justice for those who exploit these vital resources.’
Documents reveal that Massey’s mother was a SSA Title II beneficiary whose benefits were deposited into a joint account with her son. Despite her death in 2019, Massey continued to fraudulently collect his mother’s SSD benefits. From the time of her passing through August 2023, the SSA deposited over $118,000 into the joint account. Massey transferred these funds into multiple other accounts, using them for personal gain.
The defendant faces up to ten years’ imprisonment and a potential supervised release of three years if sentenced to prison. He has agreed to repay all unlawfully obtained funds under his Plea Agreement. The case was investigated by the Office of the Inspector General, Social Security Administration, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer H. Callahan.
Sentencing is set for September 30, 2025, at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola before Judge M. Casey Rodgers. For more information, visit the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida.
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Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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