Pawtucket man pleads guilty to collecting disability while working as painter

PROVIDENCE – A Pawtucket man who collected approximately $186,000 in Social Security disability insurance benefits while at the same time earning nearly $400,000 in wages as a house painter pleaded guilty Wednesday in federal court to fraud and theft charges, according to the office of U.S. Attorney Aaron L. Weisman.

Jose L. Gaza, 66, admitted that from July 2005 to July 2015, he worked for a painting contractor under a fictitious name and Social Security number, while fraudulently collecting a monthly Social Security disability benefit payment of approximately $1,399.

Appearing before U.S. District Court Judge John J. McConnell Jr., Gaza pleaded guilty to Social Security fraud and theft of government funds, according to a news release from Weisman's office.

Gaza will be sentenced Oct. 10. He faces up to five years in prison followed by three years of supervised release on the Social Security fraud charge, and up to 10 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release on the theft of government funds charge.

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