In Poway, California, Donald Felix Zampach, 65, has committed elaborate fraud by concealing his mother's death for over three decades and wrongfully claiming more than $800,000 in government benefits in her name according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Poway Man Sentenced to Prison after Concealing Mother’s Death for 32 years, Stealing Over $800,000 in Government Benefits https://t.co/6fDhylOpvo
— US Attorney CAS (@SDCAnews) October 27, 2023
Zampach kept his mother's death in 1990 a secret in order to continue receiving her widow's pension from the Social Security Administration and an annuity from the Department of Defense. His scheme involved forgery, opening credit accounts in her name, and even impersonating her to maintain the illusion of her continued existence.
Zampach's fraud was so sophisticated that only a focused audit by the Social Security Administration, dealing with individuals over 90 who hadn't used Medicare benefits, brought it to light, as reported by the Hoodline.
Zampach was ordered to pay above $830,000 in restitution, including forfeiting his residence in Poway. Federal agencies, especially those involved in his prosecution, have emphasized the essential role of justice and accountability in fraud cases, as said by the U.S. Department of Justice.
