Philadelphia Man Sentenced to 28 Months in Prison for Massive Government Benefits Scam

United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that James Sessoms, 60, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 28 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and $398,708.58 in restitution for his scheme to use stolen identities and Social Security numbers to file for government benefits, resulting in a total loss to the government of $1,063,633.

The defendant would sell the fraudulently acquired SNAP cards for profit at a local supermarket. Sessoms was charged by indictment in October of 2024 and pleaded guilty this April to one count of SNAP fraud, seven counts of false statements in connection with health care benefits, and seven counts of Social Security fraud.

The investigation revealed that Sessoms defrauded the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) of SNAP benefits, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (PA DHS) of Medicaid benefits, by submitting false and fraudulent benefit applications.

Key Takeaways:

• The scheme involved using stolen identities and Social Security numbers to file for government benefits, resulting in a total loss to the government of $1,063,633.
• The defendant, James Sessoms, was sentenced to 28 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and $398,708.58 in restitution.
• Sessoms submitted false and fraudulent identification documents, including driver's licenses, in connection with his applications.
• The investigation revealed that Sessoms obtained or created fictitious persons' names, Social Security numbers, and personally identifiable information, and used them to submit false and fraudulent benefit applications.
• The scheme involved selling fraudulently acquired SNAP cards for profit at a local supermarket.
• Sessoms was charged by indictment in October 2024 and pleaded guilty this April, admitting to one count of SNAP fraud, seven counts of false statements in connection with health care benefits, and seven counts of Social Security fraud.

Statistics:

• $1,063,633: Total loss to the government due to the scheme.
• $398,708.58: Restitution ordered by the court.
• 28 months: Prison sentence imposed on James Sessoms.
• 7: Number of counts of false statements in connection with health care benefits.
• 7: Number of counts of Social Security fraud.

Sources:

• United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
• James Sessoms' indictment (October 2024).
• James Sessoms' guilty plea (April, 2024).