A Massachusetts man kept collecting federal benefits for six years after the intended recipient died.
James C. Burdulis, 57, of Lynn, MA received $63,959 in Social Security benefits and $3,200 in pandemic stimulus payments intended for a beneficiary who died in May 2019.
Burdulis had served as the beneficiary’s representative payee.
Under the Social Security Administration’s program, a payee must manage benefits in the recipient’s best interest and report changes affecting eligibility.
Instead, prosecutors said Burdulis filed five fraudulent reports between 2020 and 2024 claiming the money had been spent for the deceased beneficiary.
He also submitted a September 2020 verification form stating that the beneficiary remained alive at the same address.
Burdulis pleaded guilty in April to receiving stolen government money and making false statements. He was sentenced to one day in prison, deemed served, followed by three years of supervised release. He must repay $67,159.