Modesto Man Pleads Guilty to Assaulting Fresno Social Security Guard

FRESNO, Calif. — Matthew Faron Blair, 33, of Modesto, pleaded guilty today to forcibly assaulting a federal contract security guard assigned to protect the Social Security Administration office in downtown Fresno, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, on October 14, 2014, Blair went to the Social Security Administration office in Fresno to attempt to collect Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. When advised that his benefits had stopped but could be renewed by completing additional paperwork, Blair became agitated and a security guard was called to escort him out of the office. As he was being escorted out of the office, Blair physically assaulted the guard. As a result of the assault, the guard suffered injury to the head and mouth, which required medical treatment.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Protective Services with assistance from the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General; the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Division of Adult Parole Operations; and the Stockton Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen A. Escobar is prosecuting the case.

Blair is scheduled for sentencing before Chief U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. O’Neill on June 5, 2017. Blair faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and restitution. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.