A Somerset County man was sentenced to just over a year in federal prison for fraudulently collecting nearly $700,000 in government benefits by impersonating his deceased father for almost two decades, federal officials said.
Steven Jones, 66, of Somerset, was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison on July 25 in Trenton Federal Court, followed by two years of supervised release. He was also sentenced to pay the entire reparation of $691,465.44.
Jones pleaded guilty earlier this year to one count of theft of public money. According to prosecutors, Jones’ father received federal retirement payments before his death in October 2004. Instead of contacting authorities, Jones forged the death certificate and continued to receive benefits fraudulently.
Jones planned for someone to imitate his father during encounters with a federal agency at least twice in order to trick officials into thinking he was still alive.
Federal investigators discovered that the fraud ran for nearly 20 years, with payments made until December 2023.
The Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General investigated the case. Acting US Attorney Alina Habba thanked special agents under Special Agent in Charge Amy Connelly for their efforts on the case.