TRENTON, N.J. — A Somerset County man has been sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison for stealing nearly $700,000 in government benefits over a 19-year period by posing as his deceased father, federal authorities announced Friday.
Steven Jones, 66, of Somerset, pleaded guilty to theft of public money and was sentenced July 25 in Trenton federal court by U.S. District Judge Robert Kirsch.
According to court records, Jones’ father died in October 2004, but instead of notifying the federal government, Jones falsified his father’s death certificate and continued collecting retirement benefits from the Social Security Administration and the U.S. Department of Defense.
On two occasions, Jones even arranged for another individual to impersonate his father in communications with federal agencies to prevent the termination of payments.
From October 2004 through December 2023, Jones unlawfully collected approximately $691,465.44 in benefits.
In addition to the prison term, Jones was sentenced to two years of supervised release and ordered to pay full restitution.