New Hampshire Man Convicted of Social Security Fraud

Portland, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that James Robinson, 60, of Concord, New Hampshire, was convicted yesterday following a two-day jury trial in U.S. District Court of fraudulently obtaining $45,473 in Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits and making false statements to a government agency. The jury returned not guilty verdicts on two other charges.

The evidence at trial revealed that Robinson received SSI benefits, which are paid to people with limited income who are blind, disabled or elderly. Between 2008 and 2013, Robinson falsely represented to the Social Security Administration (SSA) that he was living alone in Cornish, Maine, and was not receiving help or money from any person. In fact, he was living with his wife in Concord, New Hampshire, who was providing him with financial assistance. If Robinson had provided truthful information to SSA, he would have been ineligible for SSI benefits. The evidence further revealed that he made false statements concerning these facts in a 2015 interview with a Special Agent of SSA, Office of the Inspector General.

Robinson faces up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.

The investigation was conducted by SSA, Office of the Inspector General, as well as the Maine Department of Health & Human Services, Fraud Investigation & Recovery Unit.