| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 22, 2009 WWW.USDOJ.GOV/USAO/CAN |
OAKLAND, Calif. – Ralph E. King of Vacaville, Calif., was arraigned today on a 19-count federal indictment charging that he and his son, Raphael King of Oakland, conspired to fraudulently obtain almost $35,000 in federal disability payments, United States Attorney Joseph Russoniello announced.
According to the indictment, Ralph King, who is serving a prison term in California, made false representations to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Worker’s Compensation to enable him to collect federal disability payments for which he was no longer entitled. The indictment charges that Raphael King fraudulently posed as his father, Ralph King, in order to cash the disability payments.
Ralph King and Raphael King were each charged with Conspiracy to Steal Public Money and to Make False Statements to Obtain Federal Employees’ Compensation, Theft of Public Money, False Statement or Fraud to Obtain Federal Employees’ Compensation, and False Statement or Fraud to Obtain Federal Employees’ Compensation.
Raphael King was arraigned on May 5, 2009. He pled not guilty and was released on a $5,000 personal recognizance bond.
The maximum statutory penalty for each defendant is 10 years imprisonment, and a fine of $250,000, plus restitution. However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeane Hamilton and David Ward, with the assistance of Rosario Calderon. The prosecution is the result of a four-month investigation by the Department of Defense, Defense Criminal Investigative Service; and U.S. Department of Labor, Office of the Inspector General.
Please note, an indictment contains only allegations against an individual and, as with all defendants, Ralph E. King and Raphael King must be presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Further Information:
Case #: 09-0405 DLJ
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