NEWS RELEASE
UNITED STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
WESTERN DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA
Julia C. Dudley United States Attorney Brian McGinn Public Affairs Specialist |
BB&T Building 310 1st Street, S.W., Room 906 Roanoke, Virginia 24011 (540) 857-2974 FAX (540) 857-2179 |
May 12, 2009
CONSTRUCTION COMPANY OWNERS TO SERVE PRISON SENTENCE FOR SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY FRAUD
United States Attorney Julia C. Dudley announced today that Anthony Ray “Tony” Miller, age 48, and Catherine W. Miller, age 46, of Abingdon, Virginia, were each sentenced yesterday by Chief Judge James P. Jones, sitting in Abingdon, Virginia, to a term of imprisonment on convictions of Social Security disability fraud.
The Millers, who are co-owners of Tony Miller Construction Co., were each convicted by a jury sitting in Abingdon, Virginia on December 8, 2008. Tony Miller was sentenced to serve 6 months imprisonment on two counts of making false statements to the Social Security Administration (“SSA”) and one count of concealing from the Social Security Administration the fact he was working, which would have affected his continued to right to Social Security disability insurance benefits. He was also ordered to pay the SSA $139,626 in restitution. Catherine Miller was sentenced to serve 15 months on one count of making a false statement to the SSA for use in determining Tony Miller’s continued rights to benefits, and ordered to pay $92,495 in restitution.
The evidence presented at trial established that Tony Miller, who is legally blind, worked full-time for the company, although he and Catherine Miller provided signed statements to the Social Security Administration that she did all of the work for the company. Tony Miller’s duties included meeting with customers and building inspectors, negotiating contracts, and overseeing construction. The Millers built over 50 houses in the Washington County and Bristol, Virginia areas since 2001, first under the name M and N Construction Company and then as Tony Miller Construction Company since 2004.
Legally-blind individuals are eligible to collect Social Security disability insurance benefits if they meet minimum work history requirements and no longer work.
The investigation of the case was conducted by the Office of Inspector General of the Social Security Administration. Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer R. Bockhorst prosecuted the case.