Syracuse resident Sean Okrzesik, 34, has admitted to stealing $103,798.77 in federal Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits by hijacking the identities of vulnerable beneficiaries. Okrzesik, a former employee of the Social Security Administration’s Syracuse District Office, pled guilty today to theft of government property and aggravated identity theft.
The federal charges stem from a 13-month crime spree between February 2020 and February 2021, during which Okrzesik used the names and Social Security numbers of SSI recipients—or their appointed representative payees—to open fraudulent bank accounts. He then rerouted benefit payments meant for the elderly and disabled into these accounts, funneling the stolen cash toward personal luxuries.
Okrzesik admitted in court that he spent the stolen funds on high-end video gaming equipment, a custom-tailored suit, jewelry, airline tickets to the Caribbean, and online gambling. The SSI program, funded by general tax revenue, is intended to provide basic living support for low-income seniors and people with disabilities—populations Okrzesik exploited from within the agency meant to protect them.
United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and John F. Grasso, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General, confirmed the plea. The case highlights a breach of public trust by a government worker entrusted with sensitive personal data and access to federal benefit systems.
Sentencing is set for March 16, 2022, in Utica before U.S. District Judge David N. Hurd. Okrzesik faces up to 10 years in prison on the theft counts—plus a mandatory consecutive two-year sentence for aggravated identity theft—along with a potential $250,000 fine and up to three years of supervised release. His federal sentence will be determined by the judge based on statutory guidelines and case-specific factors.
The investigation was led by the SSA Office of the Inspector General and prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian S. LaRochelle. Authorities warn that fraud of this nature not only drains taxpayer resources but directly harms some of society’s most vulnerable individuals.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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