Rumford Man Sentenced to 3 Years of Probation for Social Security Fraud and Theft of Public Money

Portland, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Raymond Brenneis, 59, of Rumford, Maine, was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court by Judge D. Brock Hornby to three years of probation for Social Security fraud and theft of public money. He was also ordered to pay $51,289 in restitution to the Social Security Administration (“SSA”), and $2,376 in restitution to the Maine Department of Health & Human Services (“ME/DHHS”).

According to Court records, from July 1995 to present, Brenneis received Supplemental Security Income (“SSI”) benefits, which are paid to people with limited income who are blind, disabled or elderly. From April 2015 through January 2017, Brenneis also received Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (“SNAP”) benefits and Maine State SSI Supplement benefits. From February 2011 through January 2017, Brenneis lived with his wife whose receipt of Social Security Disability Insurance (“SSDI”) benefits rendered him ineligible for the benefits he received during that period. Brenneis falsely represented to the SSA and ME/DHHS that he was living alone and not receiving help or money from any other person during this time. Brenneis later admitted to agents that he concealed his living situation from SSA and ME/DHHS because he knew his wife’s benefits would make him ineligible to receive SSI, SNAP benefits, and other state assistance.

The investigation was conducted by SSA, Office of the Inspector General, as well as ME/DHHS, Fraud Investigation & Recovery Unit.