Valentino Valeriu Agignoae, Wire Fraud, Illinois 2015

ROCKFORD — A Lakewood, Ill., man has been brought to justice after pleading guilty to a federal criminal charge of wire fraud. Valentino Valeriu Agignoae, 55, admitted to participating in a scheme to defraud and obtain money from the United States, specifically Social Security Administration disability insurance benefits.

Between January 2007 and April 2015, Agignoae engaged in a deceitful plan to mislead the SSA and claim disability benefits, despite being able to work and owning a Chicago restaurant. He also made false statements regarding prior work and employment, further solidifying his scheme.

As a result of his actions, Agignoae fraudulently obtained and caused the U.S. government to suffer losses of approximately $157,503. The SSA terminated his benefits in 2015, following a multi-year investigation by the SSA’s Office of the Inspector General.

Agignoae’s guilty plea comes with severe consequences, as he faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. As part of the agreement, he has also consented to a personal money judgment in the amount of $157,303.

The U.S. government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael C. Beckman, Robert S. Ladd, and Michael D. Love, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Niranjan Emani. Sentencing is set for January 13, 2022, at 1:30 p.m. before U.S. District Judge Joan Humphrey Lefkow.

U.S. Attorney John R. Lausch, Jr., and Andrew Boockmeier, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Office of the SSA’s Office of the Inspector General, announced the guilty plea. Their efforts have brought a measure of justice to the victims of Agignoae’s deceitful scheme.

In a statement, U.S. Attorney Lausch emphasized the importance of holding individuals accountable for their crimes. ‘We will continue to pursue those who exploit the system and cause harm to our communities,’ he said.

Agignoae’s case serves as a reminder of the consequences of committing white-collar crime. His actions not only caused financial harm to the U.S. government but also undermined the integrity of the SSA’s disability insurance program.

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