(PRESS RELEASE) NEWNAN, Ga. – Timmy S. Stephens has been sentenced for stealing money intended as disability benefits from the Social Security Administration.  For approximately 20 years, Stephens claimed that he was disabled in order to receive benefits all while he worked at a local funeral home.

“Stephens perpetrated a two-decades long fraud on the Social Security Administration,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Richard S. Moultrie, Jr.  “The disability program is a wage replacement program for those members of our society who cannot work due to a physical or mental health condition. Stealing benefits from the Social Security trust fund betrays the Social Security Administration and the people the program is designed to help.”

            According to Acting U.S. Attorney Moultrie, the charges and other information presented in court: The evidence uncovered during the investigation showed that Stephens began receiving disability benefits due to a cardiac condition in or about August 2002.  At that time and regularly thereafter, the Social Security Administration (SSA) informed him that if his condition improved or if he returned to work, he must report any change in his condition or work activity to the SSA.  Despite notice of these reporting requirements, Stephens began working at a local funeral home in January 2003 and did not report the work activity to SSA. Instead, to conceal his work activity from SSA, Stephens arranged with the funeral home for his earnings to be reported to the Internal Revenue Service using a relative’s social security number.

            SSA later learned of this arrangement and about Stephen’s work activity. Stephens then submitted a false work activity report claiming that he had not worked since 2001.  In response, federal special agents interviewed Stephens about his work activity. During the interview, he lied to the agents and also produced falsified time sheets to the funeral homeowner, directing her to give the false records to law enforcement.  In total, Stephens received more than $360,000 in disability benefits when he was in fact able to work and not disabled.   

            Timmy Stephens has been sentenced to nine months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a fine of $5,500.00 and restitution in the amount of $126,560.50.  Stephens was convicted on these charges on October 17, 2024, after he pleaded guilty.

            This case was investigated by the Social Security Administration – Office of the Inspector General.

            Special Assistant United States Attorney Diane C Schulman prosecuted the case.