Galveston Resident Charged With Stealing Deceased Benefits For More A Decade

GALVESTON, Texas – John Stephen Davis, 64, of Galveston, has been charged with theft of nearly $400,000 in federal government benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), announced United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson.

The criminal information was filed in federal court this morning. Davis is expected to make an initial appearance before a U.S. magistrate judge in Galveston later this week.

For more than a decade, Davis allegedly stole the Social Security and retirement benefits of an individual who died in 2003. According to the allegations, Davis had a power of attorney over the individual’s bank account and failed to notify the government of the death in order to continue receiving government benefits.

Davis fraudulently received $385,632.15 as a result of the scheme, according to the criminal information.

If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 fine.

The investigation leading to the charges was conducted by SSA – Office of Inspector General (OIG) and OPM – OIG. Assistant United States Attorney Julie Redlinger is prosecuting the case.