Swansea Man Indicted For Stealing Funds From Railroad Retirement Board

The United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Stephen R. Wigginton, announced today that Mark A. Lewis, 29, of Swansea, was indicted by a federal grand jury sitting in East St. Louis on charges that he stole unemployment benefits from the United States Railroad Retirement Board.

The indictment alleges that from January 2013 through May 2013, Fisher fraudulently obtained monies belonging to the Railroad Retirement Board, an agency of the United States, by concealing his employment status in order to receive unemployment benefits. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and up to 3 years of supervised release.

An indictment is a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge and is entitled to a fair trial at which the Government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

The case was investigated by agents of the Railroad Retirement Board, Office of Investigations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Liam Coonan.

If you suspect or know of an individual or company that is committing fraud against any U.S. Railroad Retirement Board program, you may report this to the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board’s Office of Inspector General by calling 800.772.4258 or by e-mailing a complaint or information to: hotline@oig.rrb.gov