BETHUNE MAN GUILTY OF BENEFITS THEFT

nited States Attorney W. Walter Wilkins stated that Jack C. Hammonds, age 59, of Bethune, South Carolina, pled guilty in federal court to theft of government funds from the Department of Veterans Affairs and Social Security Administration. United States District Judge Terry L. Wooten accepted the plea and will impose sentence after he has reviewed the presentence report which will be prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.

Evidence presented at the guilty plea hearing established that Hammonds received $13,755.00 in disability benefits from the Department of Veteran’s Affairs and $12,093.00 from the Social Security Administration between February 2007 and April 2008. Hammonds obtained the benefits by falsely claiming he was physically unable to work, although he was working for USA Recycling in Darlington on a full time basis. Hammonds also falsely claimed to be separated from his wife, so her income would not disqualify hm for disability benefits.

Mr. Wilkins stated the maximum penalty Hammonds can receive is a fine of $250,000.00 and imprisonment for 10 years.

The case was investigated by agents of the Social Security Administration and Department of Veterans Affairs Office of the Inspector General . Assistant United States Attorney William E. Day, II, of the Florence office handled the case.