PORTLAND, Maine — A 72-year-old Arrowsic man waived indictment and pleaded guilty Wednesday in U.S. District Court to Social Security fraud, according to the U.S. attorney’s office.
By pleading guilty, Robert Caton admitted he illegally received more than $162,000 in benefits for 14 years, the federal prosecutor’s office said in a news release.
Caton’s mother, who was not named in the release, received retirement and survivor benefits following the death of her husband. When his mother died in September 2000, Caton did not notify the Social Security Administration that she died, as required.
The benefits continued to be deposited into a bank account Caton shared with his mother from the time of her death until September 2014, when the fraud was detected, according to court documents.
“Excess payments to Caton’s joint account totaled $162,786,” the U.S. attorney’s office said in the release. “Caton used these funds to pay his own personal bills and expenses, spending all but approximately $15,000.”
Caton faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. He also could be ordered to pay restitution.
A sentencing date has not been set.