Laurel Man Pleads Guilty to Theft of Federal Funds

Hattiesburg, Miss – Brad Douglas Gatlin, age 50, of Laurel, pled guilty on December 19, 2016 in U.S. District Court to theft of federal funds, U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis announced.

From February, 2009, to March, 2015, Gatlin received disability insurance benefits to which he was not entitled. He originally received the benefits for a disability which prevented him from working, but in February of 2009 he returned to work for a transport company, concealing his work activity from the Social Security Administration in order to continue receiving the benefits. When he returned to work, Gatlin was paid by the transport company through his wife’s social security number. Based on his fraudulent activities, Gatlin received $214,109 in disability insurance benefits to which he was not entitled.

Gatlin will be sentenced on March 7, 2017, at 11:30 a.m., by U. S. District Judge Keith Starrett. He faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

This case was investigated by the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General - Office of Investigations, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Jones.