Wayne Jerome Houston, Social Security Fraud – Representative Payee Fraud, Washington 2020

Tacoma, Washington – In a shocking case of betrayal, Wayne Jerome Houston, 61, of Port Ludlow, Washington, the owner of Cross Point Services LLC, a guardianship organization for disabled and vulnerable adults, has pleaded guilty to Social Security Fraud – Representative Payee Fraud.

According to the plea agreement, between November 2010 and December 2018, Houston stole as much as $280,000 from client accounts and used the money for his own expenses. He was responsible for managing the financial affairs of 15-20 clients a month, and had access to their bank accounts to pay rent, utilities, and other bills.

Houston was the representative payee for at least 13 disabled clients, and used his position to write checks from the victim accounts to himself, to Cross Point Services, or to cash, and used ATMs to withdraw money from client accounts and used it for his own expenses.

The amount stolen is still under investigation, but is between $150,000 and $280,941. Of that, approximately $83,000 was Social Security Administration benefit funds.

Houston targeted clients who had significant income or resources so that the theft was less likely to be detected.

Social Security Fraud – Representative Payee Fraud is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Under the terms of the plea agreement, prosecutors will recommend no more than 40 months in prison.

Houston is scheduled for sentencing by U.S. District Judge Ronald B. Leighton on April 17, 2020.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdwa/pr/owner-kitsap-county-guardianship-business-pleads-guilty-stealing-disabled-and-elderly