Utah Man Indicted after Fraudulently Obtaining Over $1M in Social Security Benefits and Private Insurance Policy Benefits

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah -A Salt Lake County man was indicted by a federal grand jury for wire fraud and mail fraud, among other federal crimes, after he allegedly assumed a different person's identity to fraudulently obtain the person's Social Security benefits and private insurance policy benefits for approximately 20 years.

Terry Lynn Reynolds, 69, of West Jordan, Utah, allegedly obtained of over $1 million in Social Security and private insurance benefits.

According to court documents, beginning on or about November 8, 2004, and continuing to about June 13, 2025, Reynolds allegedly executed a scheme to assume the identity of Person 1, who received disability income from a private insurance policy (Company 1) and Social Security benefits from the United States Social Security Administration (SSA) to obtain that money for himself. Reynolds had access to Person 1's name, Social Security Number, and alleged signature. Under Person 1's stolen identity, Reynolds obtained over $1 million from the SSA and from Company 1.

Court documents allege that as part of the scheme, Reynolds corresponded on multiple occasions with the SSA and Company 1. Until about March 2025, Reynolds continued to operate under Person 1's identity to fraudulently obtain Person 1's benefits.

Reynolds is charged with wire fraud, mail fraud, theft of government property, and aggravated identity theft. His initial appearance on the indictment is January 13, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. in courtroom 8.4 before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City.

United States Attorney Melissa Holyoak for the District of Utah made the announcement.

The case is being investigated jointly by the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General (SSA OIG) and the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General (USPS OIG). The Utah Department of Public Safety (DPS) has also provided valuable assistance with the investigation.

Special Assistant United States Attorney Sachiko J. Jepson of the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.