Tampa, Florida – Jonathan Frank Barner, a 55-year-old resident of Illinois, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge John Baldalamenti to 15 months in federal prison for theft of government money. In addition to the prison term, the court entered an order of forfeiture for $107,175, representing the proceeds of the offense. Barner pleaded guilty to the charges on May 18, 2026, according to an announcement by U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe.
Court documents reveal that from approximately May 2013 through April 2023, Barner repeatedly accessed his deceased grandmother’s bank account to withdraw Social Security retirement insurance benefits intended for her. The Social Security Administration had continued to deposit monthly benefits into the account under the mistaken belief that the grandmother was still alive.
Rather than notifying the Social Security Administration of his grandmother’s death, Barner continued to withdraw and spend the deposited funds for his personal expenses. This unauthorized activity persisted until April 2023, when the Social Security Administration ceased payments and the bank account was depleted.
In total, Barner unlawfully obtained and spent more than $107,000 belonging to the United States government.
The investigation was conducted by the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General. Prosecution was handled by Special Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Del Mastro, with the forfeiture proceedings managed by Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne Nebesky.
This case coincides with the Department of Justice’s recent establishment of the National Fraud Enforcement Division, announced on April 7. The division is dedicated to investigating and prosecuting fraud against the American public, supporting President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud. This task force, chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance, aims to eradicate fraud, waste, and abuse within federal benefit programs.
The Barner sentencing underscores the federal government’s commitment to holding accountable those who exploit social welfare systems and to protecting taxpayer-funded programs from fraudulent activity.
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Illinois Resident Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegally Withdrawing Over $107,000 in Social Security Benefits A federal court in Tampa, Florida, sentenced Jonathan Frank Barner to 15 months in prison for unlawfully accessing and spending Social Security retirement benefits intended for his deceased grandmother. Barner stole mor... Read the full WLF article: https://worldlawyersforum.org/news/illinois-resident-sentenced-to-federal-prison-for-illegally-withdrawing-over-107-000-in-social-security-benefits