NEWPORT NEWS, VA – A 62-year-old man from Newport News has pleaded guilty to stealing more than $62,000 in federal benefits from his deceased neighbor’s account, federal prosecutors announced.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia, Alonzo Darren McClary admitted to taking government funds that continued to be deposited into his late neighbor’s bank account after the man’s death in 2020. McClary had been granted power of attorney to manage the neighbor’s affairs but failed to notify the Social Security Administration (SSA) when the neighbor passed away.
Court records show that McClary continued to withdraw money for his own use over a period of nearly four years, causing a total overpayment of $62,957.92. Federal prosecutors said the conduct amounted to theft of government property, a felony offense carrying a potential 10-year prison sentence.
Prosecutors say McClary abused trusted position
McClary first obtained power of attorney on July 5, 2018, to assist his elderly neighbor with banking and personal matters. After the neighbor’s death on February 20, 2020, he continued accessing the account and spending the Social Security funds for personal expenses.
Sentencing is scheduled for May 19, 2026, before a federal district judge in Norfolk. The court will determine McClary’s sentence after weighing the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutory factors.
The investigation was conducted by the SSA Office of Inspector General, which has recently intensified efforts to detect fraudulent withdrawals from accounts of deceased beneficiaries.
Key points:
- Alonzo Darren McClary, 62, pleaded guilty to theft of government property.
- He stole more than $62,000 in Social Security payments after his neighbor’s death.
- McClary faces up to 10 years in prison when sentenced in May.
Federal authorities target Social Security fraud
Officials say cases like McClary’s highlight ongoing efforts to protect public funds and hold accountable individuals who exploit federal benefit systems. The SSA Inspector General’s office continues to investigate cases involving Social Security fraud and unauthorized withdrawals from deceased recipients’ accounts.
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McClary will be sentenced in May as federal prosecutors continue cracking down on benefit theft.