Bail Bondsman Convicted Of Stealing Over $120,000 In Social Security Disability Benefits

BATON ROUGE, LA - United States Attorney Walt Green announced today that MACK CHARLES WELLS JR., age 48, of Zachary, Louisiana, plead guilty before Chief U.S. District Judge Brian A. Jackson to a Bill of Information charging him with theft from the United States Social Security Administration. He is scheduled to be sentenced in February 2015.

During today’s hearing, WELLS admitted to the facts giving rise to the charge. WELLS began receiving disability payments in 1997 after an on-the-job injury. As a recipient of disability payments, WELLS had the affirmative duty to report to the Social Security Administration if his medical condition improved or he resumed working and receiving income. Beginning in February 2007, WELLS began working as a bail bondsman. In June 2007, Wells became the registered agent and member of “All Day Bail Bonding , LLC” in Zachary, Louisiana. From February 2007 through December 2011, WELLS repeatedly failed to disclose and intentionally concealed that he was working and earning income as a bail bondsman. As a result, WELLS fraudulently received more than $120,000 in disability benefit payments.

U.S. Attorney Green stated: “Disability benefits are reserved for those who are unable to work due to a disability. Masquerading as a deserving participant through lies and deceit is outrageous and disrespectful to those who are truly in such an unfortunate situation. We will continue to aggressively pursue those seeking to defraud our nation’s safety net programs.”

This matter was investigated by the Office of the Inspector General for the U.S. Social Security Administration. This matter is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lyman E. Thornton III.