Mobile County Man Sentenced To 5 Years Probation And Ordered To Pay $195,744.20 For Theft Of Social Security (SSA) Widow's Benefits

The United States Attorney, Kenyen Brown, announces that Alfred Earl, a 60 year old resident of Mobile, Alabama was sentenced today. Mr. Earl pled guilty to theft of government funds on October 20, 2014. Mr. Earl’s mother died in 1986, and at that time, she was receiving SSA widow’s benefits. Her benefits continued to be deposited monthly into her bank account at a local bank more than 24 years after her death. Mr. Earl had sole access to his mother’s bank account and withdrew the money out every month for 25 years and used it for his personal use and enjoyment knowing he should have contacted the Social Security Administration and had the benefits for his dead mother terminated. Mr. Earl was sentenced today to a five year probationary term and order to repay the Social Security Administration $95,744.20, which was the total amount he stole over the 25 year period.

Special Agents of the Social Security Administration’s Office of Inspector General investigated the case and presented it to the U.S. Attorney's Office for prosecution. The prosecutor assigned to the case is Assistant United States Attorney, Gina S. Vann.