FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT

AUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC at 410-209-4885  

July 27, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                  

http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/md                                       

BALTIMORE MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO THEFT OF GOVERNMENT PROPERTY

Used Dead Man’s Identity to Obtain Over $87,000 in Fraudulent SSI Benefits

Baltimore, Maryland - Roy L. Roscoe, age 65, of Baltimore, pleaded guilty today to theft of government property, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein.

According to the statement of facts provided to the court as part of the plea agreement, sometime before September 1992, Roy Roscoe obtained a fraudulent Maryland Department of Social Services identification card bearing his photograph and the name and identifying information for Robert Montgomery, who died on June 14, 1991. He went to the Social Security Administration (“SSA”) where he fraudulently applied for Supplemental Security Income (“SSI”) benefits in the name of Robert Montgomery. The SSA approved the application and from September 1992 through February 2006 sent monthly SSI checks in the name of Robert Montgomery to an address provided by Roy Roscoe. Roscoe received $87,552.00 in fraudulently obtained SSI benefits.

Roscoe faces a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment followed by 3 years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. U.S. District Judge William D. Quarles, Jr. has scheduled sentencing for October 24, 2006 at 1:00 p.m.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the investigative work performed by the Social Security Administration - Office of Inspector General. Mr. Rosenstein also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Tonya Kelly Kowitz, who prosecuted the case.

This page last modified—July 27, 2006