Stolen Social Security benefits land Florida man in prison

FLORIDA – A Florida man has been sentenced to over three years for stealing Social Security benefits.

Tommy Mendez, 42, of Melbourne, has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Carlos E. Mendoza to three years and one month in federal prison for theft of government funds. As part of his sentence, the court also entered an order of forfeiture in the amount of $173,125, the proceeds of the theft of government funds.

Mendez pleaded guilty on July 3, 2023.

According to court documents, Mendez applied for child auxiliary benefits, which are Social Security benefits due to children of deceased wage earners, on behalf of his minor child. Mendez also applied for a separate monthly benefit due to the surviving spouse of a deceased wage earner with a child-in-care.

On the applications, Mendez falsely claimed that the eligible child was living with him. Mendez’s applications were approved, and the Social Security Administration (SSA) paid both monthly benefits to Mendez.

Mendez admitted to misusing the child auxiliary benefits he received on behalf of his minor child for his own personal expenses and that he was never entitled to the child-in-care benefits because the minor child did not live with him. In total, Mendez received $173,125 in SSA benefits to which he was not entitled.

“Mr. Mendez fraudulently obtained Social Security benefits for himself and a minor child by falsely reporting information to the Social Security Administration (SSA),” said Gail S. Ennis, Inspector General for the SSA.

“This prison sentence holds Mr. Mendez accountable for using fraudulently obtained benefits as his own personal slush fund,”

This case was investigated by the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General. Special Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne Huyler prosecuted it.