Buffalo man going to prison for defrauding SSA out of tens of thousands of dollars

BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that John Vincent Ridgeway, 76, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of failure to disclose an event impacting eligibility for supplemental security income benefits, was sentenced to serve 15 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara.

In January 1974, Ridgeway began receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments administered by the Social Security Administration (SSA), based upon his representation that he is disabled and does not own countable resources exceeding $2,000 in value. In January 2004, Ridgeway purchased property on Langmeyer Avenue in Buffalo, jointly with his wife. The value of the property at the time exceeded $2,000, which made him ineligible to continue collecting SSI payments. Ridgeway owned the property until March 2017.

Subsequently, in October 2004, Ridgeway purchased property on LaSalle Avenue in Buffalo, using the identity of J.J.R. The value of the property at time of purchase exceeded $2,000, which again made him ineligible to continue collecting SSI payments. Ridgeway owned the property until September 2011. In February 2005, Ridgeway purchased two properties on Northumberland Avenue in Buffalo, the value of which exceeded $2,000. He owned the properties until October 2020, once again making him ineligible to continue collecting SSI payments. In May 2010, Ridgeway purchased a property on Marigold Street in Buffalo, using the identity of his deceased mother. Once again, the value of the property exceeded $2,000. He owned the property until October 2023.

Ridgeway failed to disclose ownership of any of these the properties to the SSA, with the intent to continue fraudulently collecting SSI payments. In June 2021, Ridgeway completed an SSI redetermination with the SSA. On the redetermination form, he stated that he did not own any property and signed it under the following statement: "I understand that anyone who knowingly lies or misrepresents the truth or arranges for someone to knowingly lie or misrepresent the truth is committing a crime which can be punished under Federal law, State law, or both. Everything on this document is the truth as best I know it." The SSA determined that Ridgeway's concealment of his resources resulted in an SSI overpayment of $179,276 between February 2004, and October 2023.

On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division ("Fraud Division"). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department's work to combat fraud supports President Trump's Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Franz M. Wright. The sentencing is of the result of an investigation by the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Amy Connelly, Boston New York Field Division, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of the Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Shawn Rice, and the U.S. Department of State Diplomatic Security Service, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Brian Wood.

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