Press Releases
NEW ORLEANS MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO STEALING HIS MOTHER’S SOCIAL SECURITY AND VA SURVIVOR BENEFIT’S CHECKS
May 9, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RAY J. DUPEPE, SR, age 58, a resident of New Orleans, LA, pled guilty yesterday before U. S. District Judge Jay C. Zainey to a four-count indictment charging him with theft of government funds, announced U. S. Attorney Jim Letten.
According to the factual basis, from approximately November 1, 1994, until about February 14, 2005, the Social Security benefit checks and Dependency and Indemnity Compensation checks from the Department of Veterans Affairs which were payable to DUPEPE’s mother continued to be deposited in a joint account in his and his mother’s name even though DUPEPE’s mother had died on October 30, 1994, resulting in the theft of $96,228 in benefit payments from the Social Security Administration and $135,004 in benefit payments from the Veterans Administration. The payment of government funds which DUPEPE knew were not due to him totaled $231,232 and occurred during a period of approximately 10 ½ years. In 2005, DUPEPE voluntarily returned $52,387.29 to the Social Security Administration and $29,039.67 to the Veterans Administrations, but the amount of the loss to the United States, after deduction for the returned benefits, is $149,805.04.
DUPEPE faces a maximum penalty of ten (10) years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine as to each count, plus restitution and a special assessment of $400.00. Sentencing is scheduled for August 12, 2008 at 10:00 A.M.
This case was investigated by Special Agents of Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, and of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General, and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Carol L. Michel.
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