Prison Escapee Charged With Collecting Social Security Under Assumed Name

William Lewis, 90, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was charged by Indictment, unsealed today, with two counts of mail fraud, two counts of wire fraud, one count of theft of government funds, and one count of social security fraud, announced Acting United States Attorney Louis D. Lappen. According to the Indictment¹, the defendant escaped from prison in Maryland in 1970 and has lived under an assumed name ever since. During the defendant’s time as an escapee, he collected Social Security benefits in violation of Social Security regulations. The defendant’s alleged actions resulted in a loss to the government of approximately $457,771.20.

If convicted, defendant William Lewis faces a sentence of incarceration, a period of supervised release, full restitution to the government of $457,771.20, a fine, and a special assessment.

The case was investigated by the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, and is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Christopher E. Parisi.

¹ An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.