Greenbrier man sentenced to federal prison for Social Security fraud
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Federal prosecutors said long-term Social Security fraud ended with a Greenbrier man receiving a federal prison sentence.
Officials said 56-year-old Roy David Lykins of Greenbrier had fraudulently collected more than $249,000 in Social Security benefits beginning in 2001. A federal judge sentenced him to 19 months in prison, then two years of supervised release.
Prosecutors said Lykins had applied for disability insurance and then worked as a farm hand using falsified records to hide his additional income.
Investigators said Lykins applied for disability insurance in October 2001, stating he could only walk 35 to 50 feet, not take care of his personal hygiene and not follow or understand instructions. Officials said he received insurance payments from Social Security from 2002 to 2005, which included instructions that he report any additional income.
A federal investigation revealed Lynkins worked for pay as a farmhand in Red Oak, Arkansas, from 2005 to 2018. He concealed the earnings by convincing his employer to issue paychecks in his wife’s name using her Social Security number.
Lynkins reported no earnings through 2022, officials said.
Officials said if Lynkins had reported his earnings, his Social Security insurance payments would have ended. Because he did not report, the Social Security Administration calculated it suffered a $249,166.10 loss. Since his benefits included Medicare, which also would have been terminated if he had reported, the Department of Health and Human Services calculated it lost $56,227.40.
United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas Jonathan D. Ross said the sentencing should serve as a warning to others.
“This defendant knowingly concealed his earnings and was untruthful about the status of his disability, resulting in the receipt of a significant amount of undeserved money and benefits,” Ross said. “Please let this be a warning to those who seek to engage in similar conduct: our office will hold you accountable and seek significant penalties.”
A federal grand jury indicted Lykins on Aug. 3, 2023, and charged him with one count of theft of government property and one count of making a false statement. On Jan. 24, Lykins pleaded guilty to theft of government property in exchange for dismissal of the remaining charge.
The Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General investigated the case.
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