| July 23, 2003
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CHEF COMMITS SOCIAL SECURITY FRAUD
United States Attorney Kevin J. O'Connor announced today that GUISEPPE
FAPPIANO, age 64, of 140 Cloudland Road, North Haven, Connecticut, waived
indictment and pleaded guilty to a one-count information charging him
with the felony offense of Social Security fraud.
According to documents filed in federal court today, FAPPIANO admitted
that he fraudulently received over $46,000 in Social Security disability
benefits to which he was not entitled. FAPPIANO had previously applied
for and been granted disability benefits by the Social Security Administration
("SSA") based on his alleged inability to work. At the time
of his application, however, and on numerous occasions thereafter, FAPPIANO
was advised that he was required to notify the SSA if his employment situation
ever changed.
In pleading guilty to Social Security fraud, FAPPIANO admitted that, from
February 1999 through April 2003, he worked full-time as a chef at various
restaurants in the New Haven area. Yet FAPPIANO willfully failed to disclose
that employment to the SSA. Instead, in an effort to conceal his earnings
and employment, FAPPIANO directed his employers to pay his compensation
to the name of his wife and under her Social Security number. As a result,
FAPPIANO defrauded the SSA of approximately $46,223 in improper payments.
When sentenced by United States District Judge Robert N. Chatigny, FAPPIANO
faces a possible punishment of up to five years' imprisonment, three years'
supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.
This case was investigated by the Social Security Administration, Office
of the Inspector General, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United
States Attorney Shawn J. Chen.
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