ST. LOUIS — A man in Missouri reportedly admitted to cashing his dead mother’s Social Security checks for the last 26 years, officials say.
Reginald Bagley, 62, pleaded guilty on Thursday to a felony charge of stealing money belonging to the United States, according to a news release from the Justice Department.
Bagley could face up to 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 when he is sentenced in March, according to The New York Times.
Bagley allegedly admitted that his mother died on March 12, 1994, and her death was not reported to the Social Security Administration, according to the DOJ. A bank account was created in 1998 to directly deposit her benefits. The statements went to Bagley’s house in either his name or his mother’s.
The DOJ said that the Social Security Administration tried to get a hold of her by sending a letter since she was not using her Medicare benefits.
Bagley immediately closed the bank account and got a cashier’s check for the rest of the balance on July 24, 2020, according to the DOJ.
The NYT said that from April 1, 1994, to July 31, 2020, Bagley stole $197,329 in Social Security benefits.
Bagley is scheduled to be sentenced on March 29, 2023, according to the DOJ.
No further information has been released.
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