New Bedford man charged with Social Security fraud

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (WLNE) — The United States District Attorney’s Office said that a New Bedford man was charged with fraudulently receiving Social Security disability benefits.

62-year-old Anthony Patterson was charged with one count of theft of government money.

Patterson is alleged to have stolen approximately $92,582 in Social Security disability benefits between May 2013 to May 2023.

The charge of theft of government money provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater.