A man from suburban Chicago has been indicted in federal court for allegedly obtaining Social Security benefits fraudulently using his deceased father’s identity. Richard Young, Jr., 61, of Maywood, Illinois, faces four counts of bank fraud and one count of embezzlement of government funds. He pleaded not guilty during his arraignment before U.S. Magistrate Judge Young B. Kim in Chicago.
The indictment states that Young’s father passed away in 2006. In 2013, Young filed an application with the Social Security Administration for benefits under his deceased father’s name. The administration, unaware of the applicant’s death, approved the application and began issuing benefits via direct deposit into a bank account held in the deceased father’s name. From 2015 to 2021, Young allegedly accessed approximately $178,683 from this account for personal use at casinos, restaurants, gas stations, retail stores, and other places.
The charges were announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, alongside Michelle L. Anderson from the Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Niranjan Emani is representing the government.
U.S. Attorney Boutros stated: “The indictment accuses Mr. Young of fraudulently obtaining benefits for years from a critically important retirement program.” He emphasized that Social Security fraud undermines a program crucial to many Americans’ retirement plans and funded by taxpayers’ income.
It is important to note that an indictment does not constitute evidence of guilt; Young is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. Each bank fraud charge carries a potential sentence of up to 30 years in federal prison while embezzlement could result in up to ten years.
A status hearing before U.S. District Judge John F. Kness is scheduled for July 23, 2025.
