Delmont Man Sentenced To Probation With Home Detention For Defrauding Social Security Administration

PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Delmont, Pa., has been sentenced in federal court to five years probation with six months home detention and restitution of $62,360.24 on his conviction of theft of government property, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.

Senior United States District Judge Gustave Diamond imposed the sentence on Gavin Fowkes, 40.

According to information presented to the court, over a period of six years, Fowkes stole $62,360.24 worth of Social Security Disability Income payments to which he knew he was not entitled. The payments had been directly deposited by the Social Security Administration into a bank account held by a relative of Fowkes.

Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Diamond took into consideration the defendant's lack of a criminal history, his early acceptance of responsibility and the defendant's ability to pay restitution through his full-time employment as a mechanic.

Assistant United States Attorney Tonya Sulia Goodman prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. The Office of the Inspector General for the Social Security Administration conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Fowkes.