A South Carolina man, Albert Bayer (64), has been sentenced to federal prison for stealing Social Security benefits meant for his deceased wife, L.D.
The sentencing comes after Bayer pleaded guilty in March 2024 to theft of government funds.
According to court documents obtained by the U.S. Department of Justice, L.D. was receiving Social Security Disability Insurance Benefits when she passed away on March 31, 2015. However, Bayer failed to inform the Social Security Administration (SSA) of her death.
This resulted in the SSA unknowingly continuing her benefit payments, which Bayer redirected for personal use.
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U.S. District Judge William F. Jung of the Middle District of Florida handed down the sentence on June 24, 2024. Bayer received one year and one day in federal prison, along with a forfeiture order requiring him to repay the stolen funds – a total of $76,547.
The Social Security Administration’s Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation into Bayer’s actions. Special Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne Huyler prosecuted the case.
The Social Security Administration encourages beneficiaries and their families to report any changes in circumstances that could affect benefits, including death. This can be done by calling the SSA at 1-800-772-1213 or visiting their website at https://www.ssa.gov/.
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