Investigation Report Update
Social Security Administration sent this bulletin at 07/24/2020 02:24 PM EDTYou are subscribed to receive Investigation Reports from the SSA Office of the Inspector General. The following information has recently been updated and is now available.
Tennessee Resident Sentenced to 56 Months
From the U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Indiana
Friday, July 24, 2020
Indianapolis – United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced today, George Ruth, 64, Morristown, Tennessee, was sentenced to 56 months in federal prison for defrauding the United States Department of the Treasury, Internal Revenue Service, and the Social Security Administration.
“Mr. Ruth has tried making a career of getting something for nothing,” said Minkler. “He was not that good at it and this sentence should put an end to it. Don’t steal from the government and the programs in place to help those in need and expect law abiding citizens to carry your responsibility.
From the U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Pennsylvania
Wednesday, July 22, 2020
Philadelphia – United States Attorney William M. McSwain announced that Richard Meleski, 58, of Chalfont, PA, pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including healthcare fraud, mail fraud, stolen valor, and aiding and abetting straw purchases of firearms.
In November 2019, Meleski was charged by Indictment for his scheme to defraud the government of hundreds of thousands of dollars in benefits. To perpetrate the scheme, Meleski faked serving in the U.S. military, specifically the Navy SEALs, and falsely represented that he had been a Prisoner of War, in order to secure healthcare benefits from the Veterans Administration (VA) worth over $300,000. Due to his false representation as a POW, the defendant received healthcare from the VA in Priority Group 3, effectively receiving healthcare before other deserving military service members. In reality, Meleski never served a single day in the United States military.
From the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Maryland
Wednesday, July 22, 2020
Greenbelt, Maryland – A federal grand jury in Maryland has indicted licensed dentist Edward T. Buford III, age 68, of Silver Spring, Maryland; his business partner Kasandra Vilchez-Duarte, age 44, of Fort Washington, Maryland; and Donnie Amis, age 63, of Washington, D.C. on the federal charges of conspiracy to violate the federal Anti-Kickback Statute and conspiracy to commit health care fraud and mail fraud. The indictment was returned on July 13, 2020, and unsealed today at the defendants’ initial appearance.
Nine indicted in Wide-Ranging Bank Fraud Conspiracy
From the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Rhode Island
Tuesday, July 21, 2020
Providence – A Massachusetts used car dealer and eight others have been named in a federal superseding indictment brought in U.S. District Court in Providence, RI, charging them with allegedly participating in a wide-reaching conspiracy to defraud financial institutions in several states by obtaining fraudulent car loans secured with stolen personal identifying information and fraudulent documents created by members of the conspiracy.
