ST. LOUIS – A St. Louis County man admitted to stealing more than $153,000 in government benefits by concealing the death of a family member for over a decade.
Alphonso Dixon, 57, pleaded guilty to one count of theft of government money in a federal court hearing Wednesday.
Dixon’s relative died on Dec. 31, 2008, but her death was not reported to the Social Security Administration until at least 2021. Her Social Security benefits continued to be deposited into a bank account for several years, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Investigators say Dixon accessed the account and spent the funds, including at least one COVID-related stimulus payment on April 7, 2021, as well as pension benefits from the City of St. Louis Employees Retirement System.
In total, Dixon took $115,392 in Social Security benefits, the $1,400 stimulus payment and $36,000 in pension funds. Dixon reportedly used that money for his own benefit.
Dixon is scheduled to be sentenced on August 21. He could be sentenced up to 10 years in prison and fined up to $250,000.