Manning Man Charged with Stealing Benefits

United States Attorney W. Walter Wilkins stated today that Sammie Lee Samuel, age 45, of Manning, was charged in a federal Indictment with theft of government property, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 641.

The indictment alleges that Samuel embezzled and converted to his use Social Security benefits worth more than $1,000.00, by cashing the Social Security checks of a deceased person.

The maximum penalty that Samuel could receive is a fine of $250,000 and imprisonment of 10 years.

Mr. Wilkins stated that the case was investigated by agents of the Social Security Administration and that he has assigned the case to Assistant United States Attorney Rhett DeHart of the Charleston office for prosecution.

The United States Attorney stated that all charges in this Indictment are merely accusations and that all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.