Latest news with #Kingsep
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3 days ago
- Business
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Canadian man gets 2.5 years in prison for 30-year scheme where he stole more than $420K from Social Security
A Canadian man has been arrested, sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison and ordered to repay $420,000 he stole in Social Security benefits over a 30-year period, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Alaska said in a news release May 12. Ellis Kingsep, 77, was legally living in the U.S. and used an "elaborate scheme" to collect Social Security benefits intended for his mother, the office says. His mother would now be 103 years old, but no records of her exist past 1993 and she's presumed dead. Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 5 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Nervous about the stock market in 2025? Find out how you can access this $1B private real estate fund (with as little as $10) As President Donald Trump has pushed to uncover what he called "shocking levels of incompetence and probable fraud" in Social Security, this situation highlights concerns about how long-term fraud can slip through the cracks, especially when beneficiaries die and no one reports it. Kingsep's fraud, the office says, relied on a complex system of mail forwarding that helped him receive and send mail in his mother's name. Citing court documents, it says he used multiple private mailbox accounts in California, Vancouver and Alaska to intercept and reroute mail. It's estimated the scheme was devised in 1995 and continued undetected until 2023, when a federal investigator uncovered the deception. At this point, the payments were stopped. Kingsep was arrested in July 2024 and in December pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud. In addition to the prison sentence and restitution, the court also imposed a $50,000 criminal fine and ordered him to serve three years of supervised release following his incarceration. Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says — and that 'anyone' can do it Since taking office in January 2025, Trump has repeatedly made unverified claims about widespread fraud in the Social Security system. During a joint session of Congress, Trump claimed, "1.3 million people from ages 150 to 159 and over 130,000 people, according to the Social Security databases, are age over 160 years old." He even said that one person was listed as being 360 years old. While the numbers sound alarming, these statements reflect a misunderstanding of the data rather than actual fraud. Millions of people in the Social Security database appear to be over 100, but that's largely because they died before death records were digitized, and their deaths were never formally recorded. Nearly all of those individuals are no longer receiving benefits. In fact, the Social Security Administration (SSA) reports that just 0.1% of Social Security retirement beneficiaries are over the age of 100. SSA policy also halts payments for beneficiaries over the age of 115. In terms of financial errors, the SSA's Office of the Inspector General reported nearly $72 billion in improper payments in 2024. But that number included overpayments and underpayments to beneficiaries. The Inspector General's office has made several recommendations to improve payment accuracy, though many remained to be implemented as of August. Still, fraud itself appears to be rare. Kathleen Romig, Director of Social Security and Disability Policy at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, noted that Social Security maintains a payment accuracy rate of nearly 99%. The Kingsep case is a rare example, but it highlights the importance of keeping records up to date. When a loved one who receives benefits passes away, the funeral home usually notifies the SSA. If no funeral home is involved, you can report the death directly by calling 1-800-772-1213. Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Robert Kiyosaki warns of a 'Greater Depression' coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 'easy-money' assets will bring in 'great wealth'. How to get in now This is how American car dealers use the '4-square method' to make big profits off you — and how you can ensure you pay a fair price for all your vehicle costs Like what you read? Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise straight to your inbox every week. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Winnipeg Free Press
14-05-2025
- Winnipeg Free Press
Canadian man sentenced to 2 1/2 years in U.S. Social Security fraud
FAIRBANKS – The United States Attorney's Office in Alaska says a Canadian man has been sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison and ordered to repay $420,000 he stole in social security benefits from the U.S. government over a 30-year period. It says 77-year-old Ellis Kingsep was legally living in the United States and had devised 'an elaborate scheme' where he collected benefits payments that were sent by the Social Security Administration intended for his mother. It says the scheme included 'an intricate web of mail forwarding requests for his mother's mail by using private postal mailbox accounts' in California, Vancouver and Alaska to conceal that he was receiving his mother's mail and sending correspondence in her name. The attorney's office says Kingsep's mother would now be 103 years old and though there has never been a death certificate filed, she is presumed to be dead as there has been no record of her since 1993. It says the scam began around 1995 and continued until 2023 when an investigator uncovered the scheme, and Kingsep was arrested in July 2024. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. The attorney's office says Kingsep pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud in December 2024, and the court has also ordered him to pay a $50,000 criminal fine and serve three years on supervised release after his prison sentence concludes. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 14, 2025.
