PHILADELPHIA — A 60-year-old man from Philadelphia has admitted to masterminding a complex identity fraud scheme that defrauded the U.S. government of over $1 million in public assistance benefits over four years.
James Sessoms pleaded guilty today in federal court to one count of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) fraud, seven counts of false statements in connection with healthcare benefits, and seven counts of Social Security fraud. His plea was entered before U.S. District Judge Chad F. Kenney.
Sessoms now faces a maximum sentence of 90 years in federal prison when he is sentenced on August 21.
Elaborate Fraud Using Stolen and Fake Identities
According to court records and Sessoms’ own admissions, between November 2019 and November 2023, he executed a wide-ranging scheme to collect SNAP and Medicaid benefits by submitting fraudulent applications using stolen and fabricated identities.
Sessoms illegally acquired or invented names, Social Security numbers (SSNs), and other personally identifiable information (PII), which he then used to apply for benefits from the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (PA DHS).
To boost payouts, he created fictitious family members—fabricating spouses and children—and even submitted fake birth certificates for these imaginary dependents. These additions led to higher SNAP disbursements and increased Medicaid expenses, all funded jointly by federal agencies including the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
In some cases, Sessoms even produced phony driver’s licenses bearing his photograph under different names to solidify his false identities.
The fraud didn’t end with benefit collection. Authorities say Sessoms converted the stolen benefits into cash by selling the SNAP cards at a local supermarket. The estimated total loss to the government amounted to $1,063,633.
Broad Federal Investigation
The case was unraveled through a joint investigation led by:
- USDA Office of Inspector General
- Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General
- HHS Office of Inspector General
- Homeland Security Investigations
- Pennsylvania Office of State Inspector General
“This case demonstrates how identity theft and benefit fraud not only harm the integrity of federal programs but also directly impact the communities those programs are meant to support,” said officials familiar with the case.
The SNAP and Medicaid programs are designed to help low-income individuals and families access food and healthcare. Cases like Sessoms’ raise alarms about program vulnerability and the need for stronger fraud detection systems to prevent abuse.
Sessoms is currently awaiting sentencing. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Curran is prosecuting the case.
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