Central New York Man Pleads Guilty to Theft of Government Property

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Frederick L. Guth, Jr., age 66, of Brewerton, New York, pled guilty yesterday to theft of Social Security retirement benefits.

The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon and John F. Grasso, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, New York Field Office.

As part of his guilty plea, Guth admitted that from November 2016 until July 2018, he erroneously received a total of $33,812.00 in Social Security retirement benefits issued under the social security number and name of another person, and that he spent the benefits despite knowing that the benefits were not his and that he was not entitled to them.

Sentencing is scheduled for ­­­­­November 30, 2021, before Senior United States District Judge Thomas J. McAvoy in Binghamton, New York.   Guth faces up to 10 years in prison, up to 3 years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000 as a result of his conviction.  Additionally, Guth has agreed to pay restitution to the Social Security Administration.  A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.

This case was investigated by the SSA Office of the Inspector General and is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian S. LaRochelle.