ST. LOUIS COUNTY FOSSIL COMPANY OPERATOR SENTENCED FOR DISABILITY FRAUD

The following information was released by the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District Of Missouri:

U.S. District Judge Zachary M. Bluestone on Tuesday ordered a fossil company owner to repay $106,923 in Social Security disability benefits that he'd obtained through disability fraud.

Judge Bluestone also placed Scott A. Taylor on probation for five years. After having been granted disability benefits, Taylor opened Taylor Made Fossils, which made fossil recreations. While repeatedly falsely claiming to be too disabled to work, Taylor was carrying large or heavy objects, doing yard work, using a cell phone, and walking normally while unassisted and alone. He claimed he had difficulty walking, standing, concentrating, feeding himself, shopping, using his arms, managing money, seeing, hearing, speaking and caring for his hair. He stated his vision caused him to walk into people and objects and frequently fall down the stairs, that he was in extreme constant pain, that it was dangerous for him to leave the house alone, that he could not feel his hands or feet and that even normal items would become too heavy to lift. Taylor falsely claimed he had received no wages or income and had no form of employment since 1997. Since 2014, his business generated income ranging from hundreds of dollars to tens of thousands of dollars per month in all but three months.

After an investigation by the Social Security Administration - Office of Inspector General (SSA-OIG), Taylor's disability benefits were discontinued. Taylor stole a total of $106,923, his plea agreement says.

Taylor, 50, of Wellston, pleaded guilty in September to one felony count of theft of government money.

The SSA-OIG investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gwen Carroll prosecuted the case.