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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Monday - June 19, 2006

MAN SENTENCED FOR STEALING FROM THE DISABLED

RALEIGH - United States Attorney Frank D. Whitney announced that on Tuesday, June 13, 2006, in Raleigh, N. C., BARRETT EDWARD KEYES, 36, of 2829 Roundleaf Court, Raleigh, N. C. was sentenced to 30 months’ imprisonment for stealing social security funds intended to benefit disabled citizens. KEYES was also required to pay restitution in the amount of $69,000. Senior United States District Judge W. Earl Britt imposed the sentence, which was at the high end of the sentencing range recommended by the United States Sentencing Guidelines.

KEYES pled guilty to the charge on September 26, 2005. An investigation determined that KEYES had been working as a “representative payee” for at least 27 clients of Triangle Disability Advocates (“TDA”). TDA clients suffer from a variety of conditions, including schizophrenia, mental retardation, and other similar disabilities which make it difficult for them to manage their social security benefits and day-to-day living expenses. As a representative payee, KEYES was responsible for providing this assistance, and had access to each client’s account with ATM cards and checkbooks. KEYES took advantage of this access to convert payments intended for his clients to his own use.

Investigation of the case was conducted by the Raleigh Police Department and the Office of the Inspector General for the Social Security Administration. Assistant United States Attorney Joe Exum, Jr. prosecuted the case.

News releases are available on the U. S. Attorney’s web page at www.usdoj.gov/usao/nce within 48 hours of release.