USAO, Western District of Virginia - Press Release

Summary

On July 24, 2012, Risden Richardson, of Roanoke, Virginia, was sentenced in U.S. District Court, Roanoke, Virginia, to 10 months incarceration, three years supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution of $123,202 to the Social Security Administration (SSA), and $6,288.29 to the Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) for theft of government money.  The investigation revealed that from 2002 to 2011, Mr. Richardson, employed as a motor carrier operator for a Virginia based interstate trucking company, failed to report he had a medical condition on his medical examination report for commercial driver's fitness, as required by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT).  If reported, his medical conditions would have made him ineligible to be employed as a commercial motor vehicle driver.  During the same period, he reported to the Social Security Administration that he was unable to work due to a back disorder.  Because Mr. Richardson was on Social Security Disability Insurance Benefits (SS-DIB) he was prohibited from working more than 80 hours a month or earning more than $1,000 per month.  To conceal his work activity, Richardson had his truck driver wages made payable to his wife's company, C&R Freightways.  As part of his plea, Mr. Richardson admitted that he improperly received $123,202.00 in SS-DIB payments and gave false information on USDOT required documents. This investigation was conducted with the SSA-OIG and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services OIG.