Gwynn Oak Man Pleads Guilty To Fraudulently Obtaining Social Security And Veterans Benefits

Baltimore, Maryland – Dwight McCloud Newman, age 63, of Gwynn Oak, Maryland pleaded guilty today to Title II program fraud.

The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Michael McGill of the Social Security Administration (SSA) - Office of Inspector General, Philadelphia Field Division; and Inspector General Kim R. Lampkins, Special Agent in Charge, Mid Atlantic Field Office, Washington, DC of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

According to his plea agreement, Newman’s father received Social Security retirement and Veteran disability benefits at the time of his death on January 7, 2007. The benefits were directly deposited into a checking account in which Newman and his father were joint account holders. Newman failed to notify SSA or VA of his father’s death. As a result, from January 7, 2007 to November 3, 2011, SSA deposited $62,110 into the checking account, and VA deposited $16,995 from January 7, 2007 to November 30, 2012. Newman withdrew or spent substantially all of these benefits for his own benefit.

Newman faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for Title II program fraud. Newman agrees to pay restitution of $79,105, including $7,000 to be paid at the time of sentencing. U.S. District Judge William D. Quarles, Jr. scheduled sentencing for October 15, 2013 at 1:00 p.m.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the SSA–OIG and VA-OIG for their work in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul K. Nitze of the SSA, who is prosecuting the case.