Man used son's identity for Social Security benefits
A Kennesaw man pleaded guilty to wire fraud after using his son's Social Security number while receiving disability benefits, federal officials said.
Robert Joseph Selleck, 42, pleaded guilty in federal court Wednesday to three counts of wire fraud. Prosecutors said Selleck claimed he was unable to work and collected disability benefits, but simultaneously worked full-time using his son's Social Security number.
According to a press release from the office of the U.S. attorney in Atlanta, his arrest came after the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General pursued a "fraud trend" in which fathers did not disclose their occupation to the SSA by supplying employers with the Social Security numbers of their sons, or juniors, of the same name.
The investigation found that Selleck worked for eight years using his son’s Social Security number while receiving disability benefits.
Selleck applied for disability benefits in 1996, alleging that he was unable to work and was granted those benefits. The SSA conducts periodic reviews to determine the medical status of benefit recipients and Selleck completed SSA paperwork in April 2003 stating that he was still disabled and unable to work.
Selleck also completed additional SSA paperwork in March 2009, again stating he was disabled and not working.
The SSA requested records from Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. (TBS), which stated Selleck was a full-time maintenance engineer from August 2001 to April 2009.
Selleck fraudulently received $123,103 in disability payments, prosecutors said.
Selleck was charged on July 29, 2010, with three counts of wire fraud and pleaded guilty to all counts. He could receive a maximum sentence of 60 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 when sentenced Oct. 13.
