NEW ORLEANS MAN CHARGED WITH THEFT OF GOVERNMENT FUNDS
BERTRAND R. TAYLOR, age 65, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, was charged in a one-count bill of information filed today for theft of government funds, announced U. S. Attorney Jim Letten.
According to the Bill of Information, TAYLOR’s mother, M.T., was a beneficiary of the Social Security Administration (SSA), an agency of the United States. TAYLOR was a representative payee for M.T. TAYLOR failed to inform SSA of his mother’s death on June 3, 1984 and SSA continued to provide M.T.’s monthly benefits to TAYLOR from June 1984 to September 2010. TAYLOR continued to receive his mother’s SSA benefits and used the funds for his own personal use. In all, TAYLOR received $175,184 to which he was not entitled.
If convicted, TAYLOR faces a maximum term of imprisonment of ten (10) years, a $250,0000 fine, restitution to SSA, and three (3) years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment, and a $100 special assessment.
The case was investigated by the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U. S. Attorney Julia K. Evans.
U. S. Attorney Letten reiterated that the Bill of Information is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
(Download Bill of Information 
)
