Plainfield, Vermont Man Sentenced to 2 years of Probation for Social Security Disability Fraud

Burlington, Vermont - The United States Attorney's Office for the District of Vermont stated that on February 10, 2026, John Cozza, 64, of Plainfield, Vermont, was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Christina Reiss to a two-year term of probation and ordered to pay $68,323.20 in restitution to the United States Social Security Administration. Cozza previously pleaded guilty to submitting false information in his application for Social Security Disability Insurance ("SSDI") benefits.

According to court records, Cozza stated in a March 2021 application for SSDI benefits that he had not been self-employed in 2020 or in 2021, through the date of his application. When Cozza submitted the application, he knew that information was false. In fact, Cozza had been working as a handyman through his businesses, J.C. Handy Man Services and Black Bear Building Services from 2019 through the date of his application (and continuing until at least 2023). There was ample evidence of defendant's self-employment through his advertising of his businesses and his social media posts for those businesses. As a result of his false statements to the Social Security Administration, Cozza obtained $68,323.20 in SSDI benefits to which he was not entitled.

First Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt commended the collaborative investigatory efforts of the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General, Office of Investigations (SSA OIG-OI) and the Vermont State Police.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas Aliberti and Jason Turner. John Cozza was represented by Michael Shklar, Esq.