Press Release
Four In Metroplex Indicted For Stealing Social Security Benefits Belonging To Deceased Individuals
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Texas
DALLAS — A federal grand jury returned four unrelated indictments this week, each charging an individual from the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex with a federal felony offense stemming from their theft of Social Security benefits, announced U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Saldaña of the Northern District of Texas.
Each of the below-listed defendants is charged with at least one count of theft of government funds. Each was arrested, appeared before a U.S. Magistrate Judge, and was released on bond.
Robert Scoggins, 57, of Carrollton, Texas, is alleged to have stolen approximately $47,548 in Social Security benefits paid to his deceased wife, to which he knew he was not entitled.
James Glen Williams, 47, of Dallas, Texas, is alleged to have stolen approximately $77,886 in Retirement Insurance benefits paid to his deceased mother, to which he knew he was not entitled.
Latasha Smith, a/k/a Latasha Matthews, 34, of Arlington, Texas, is alleged to have stolen approximately $49,065 in Retirement Insurance benefits paid to her deceased father and $84,029 in Veterans’ Affairs benefits paid to her deceased mother, to which she knew she was not entitled.
Roy Dan Ramos, 41, of Grand Prairie, Texas, is alleged to have stolen more than $1,000 in Retirement Insurance benefits paid to his deceased grandmother, to which he knew he was not entitled. He is also charged with concealing that information in a 2011 bankruptcy filing.
A federal indictment is an accusation by a grand jury and a defendant is entitled to the presumption of innocence unless proven guilty. If convicted, however, the maximum statutory penalty for the offense of theft of government funds is 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. The maximum statutory penalty for making a false statement in a bankruptcy filing is five years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.
The investigation is being conducted by the Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General, with assistance from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs Office of Inspector General. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Dana is prosecuting.
Updated June 22, 2015
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