Bradford County Man Sentenced To One Year Of Probation For Wire Fraud

WILLIAMSPORT - The United States Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Richard Burke, age 76, of Bradford County, Pennsylvania, was sentenced yesterday by Chief United States District Judge Matthew W. Brann to one year of probation and ordered to pay $350,634.23 in restitution on a charge of wire fraud.

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, from April 2005 until

March 7, 2022, Burke withdrew $350,634.23 of his deceased mother's Social Security Retirement, Survivors and Disability (RSDI) benefits and Veterans Affairs death pension benefit payments from her bank account. Burke's mother died in 2005, and no other individual was entitled to the benefits designated to her. Burke used his deceased mother's bank card to make regular cash withdrawals over the years following her benefits deposits, never notifying the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) nor the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that she had died.

The Social Security Administration and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of the Inspector General investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robin Zenzinger prosecuted the case.

# # #