St. John Man Indicted For Theft Of Social Security Monies

HAMMOND- United States Attorney David A. Capp announced today that a federal grand jury in Hammond returned a two-count indictment charging a Jerald W. Markward, 62, of Saint John, Indiana with one count of theft of federal money and one count of social security fraud for allegedly applying for and receiving Social Security Disability Insurance Benefits ("SSDIB") payments despite not being eligible to receive those payments.

The indictment alleges that from about June 2011 to about May 2015, Markward stole $107,291 in SSDIB payments which he was not eligible to receive because he was simultaneously performing outside work in heating, cooling, and refrigeration, and failing to report that additional income as he was required to do.

The case is being investigated by the Social Security Administration and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria N. Lerner.

The United States Attorney's Office emphasized that an Indictment is merely an allegation and that all persons charged are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.

If convicted in court, any specific sentence to be imposed will be determined by the judge after a consideration of federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.