Windham, New Hampshire man pleads guilty to Social Security fraud

A New Hampshire man, Jalil Farhoumanzadeh, could receive up to five years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine after pleading guilty to Social Security fraud. Farhoumanzadeh admitted to helping his father claim Social Security benefits exceeding $38,000, despite the fact that he lived in Iran. The son served as his father’s translator. He pleaded guilty to criminal charges for submitting false claims with the Social Security Administration.

Mr. Farhoumanzadeh also must resolve civil liability claims under the federal False Claims Act. He has not admitted liability, but he consented to pay $85,000 to put to rest charges that he lied to prevent the Social Security Administration from learning that his father had been out of the country in Iran for long periods of time and that the man received Supplemental Security Income benefits to which he was not entitled. Farhoumanzadeh had told the agency that his father had taken only one trip outside the country since 2005 and that his father had not resided outside the United States for thirty days since he began to receive benefits. The government charged that, in fact, Farhoumanzadeh knew that both statements were untrue. His father’s benefits – $623 each month for an anxiety disorder – began in 1996 and were wire-transferred into a joint checking account shared by the father and son.

For the full story, go to the Eagle-Tribune.