Thibodaux Man Charged with Stealing Disability Benefits

Clint A. Schwab, 42, of Thibodaux, Louisiana, is facing federal charges for allegedly stealing Social Security disability benefits he wasn’t entitled to receive. The hardcover fraud spanned nearly a decade, as Schwab allegedly returned to work in 2008 but never told the Social Security Administration, continuing to pocket monthly payments meant for the disabled.

According to a Bill of Information unsealed today, Schwab began receiving Social Security disability benefits in 1998. The scheme kicked into high gear around 2008 when he resumed employment—but stayed silent about it. Federal rules require recipients to report any earned income, but Schwab ignored the law, slipping through the cracks while collecting taxpayer-funded checks.

In January 2016, when confronted by the Social Security Administration during an interview, Schwab lied outright, claiming he had never worked as a disabled claimant. Documents filed in federal court confirm he knowingly concealed his employment, defrauding the system for years while others in need waited for assistance.

From 2008 until early 2016, Schwab cashed in on benefits he didn’t deserve. The total amount stolen has not been disclosed, but under federal law, the theft of government funds carries a maximum penalty of ten years in prison and/or a fine of $250,000—or twice the gross gain to the defendant or loss to the government, whichever is greater.

U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite emphasized that the Bill of Information is a formal charge, not a conviction. “The guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt,” Polite stated, reminding the public that due process remains intact even in cases of alleged financial betrayal.

The investigation was led by the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard R. Pickens, II, is prosecuting the case. As the federal machinery grinds forward, Schwab now faces the consequences of a long-running deception—one that exploited a system built to protect the vulnerable.

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