United States Attorney Jan Sharp announced that James Nieman, 45, of Waverly, Nebraska, was sentenced today in Lincoln by United States District Judge John M. Gerrard for theft of government funds. Nieman was sentenced to 5 years’ probation, 12 weekends of intermittent confinement, $272,202 in restitution, and a $100 special assessment. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case began in November of 2017, when SSA received an anonymous tip that Nieman was collecting social security disability payments, representing that he did not work due to disability. Meanwhile, he was self-employed as a floor installer. Nieman received SSI and HHS Medicare benefits from November 2001 to March 2019. During that time, he voluntarily, intentionally, and knowingly made misrepresentations regarding his employment and income to receive benefits to which he was not entitled.
Based upon Nieman’s misrepresentation he was not eligible for SSI nor Medicare benefits. The investigation revealed that Nieman received $226,737.70 in SSI benefits to which he was not entitled and $45,464.30 in HHS benefits to which he was not otherwise entitled to, totaling $272,202.00
This case was investigated by the Office of the Inspector General for the Social Security Administration.