Barnstead Man Sentenced To Two Years On Probation For Social Security Fraud

          CONCORD, N.H. – Craig Luksza, 34, of Barnstead, who pleaded guilty to one count of Social Security Fraud on June 9, 2015, was sentenced today to two years’ probation and was ordered to make full restitution to the Social Security Administration, announced Acting United States Attorney Donald Feith.

          From July 2010 through July 2014, Luksza fraudulently received Social Security disability benefits.  These benefits are paid to individuals who have a severe impairment that prevents them from performing their past work or any other substantial gainful work that exists in the national economy.  Shortly after he applied for disability benefits in December 2009, Luksza returned to work full-time at a construction company.  His income from this job would have rendered him ineligible to receive any disability benefits, but Luksza did not report his work activity to the Social Security Administration (SSA) as required.  Instead, in December 2013, he falsely told SSA that he had not worked since December 2008 and, specifically, that he had not worked at a construction company.  As a result of his concealment, Luksza received $71,180.50 in disability benefits that he would not have received if Social Security had been aware of his actual work activity and income.   

          Luksza was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Steven J. McAuliffe.           

          The case was investigated by the Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General and prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Karen Burzycki.