Albany Man Sentenced for Stealing Government Property

ALBANY, NEW YORK – John E. Szumigata, age 70, of Albany, was sentenced today to serve 5 months in jail, to be followed by 5 months of home confinement, for stealing over $91,000 in benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA).

The announcement was made by United States Attorney Richard S. Hartunian and John F. Grasso, Special Agent in Charge of the SSA Office of the Inspector General, New York Field Office.

On June 1, 2016, Szumigata was convicted of theft of government property after a two-day trial. The evidence at trial demonstrated that between October 1999 and September 2012, Szumigata withdrew Social Security monies that were directly deposited into his mother’s checking account for her benefit, despite the fact that she had died in 1999. Szumigata used the money to write checks to himself, pay personal expenses, and transfer money to businesses that he owned.

Senior United States District Judge Gary L. Sharpe also ordered Szumigata to serve 3 years of supervised release and to pay $91,322.44 in restitution to the SSA.

This case was investigated by the SSA Office of the Inspector General and was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason W. White.