RUMFORD — Raymond Brenneis was sentenced Monday to three years of probation for Social Security fraud and theft of public money.
Brenneis, 59, of Rumford was also ordered to pay $51,289 in restitution to the Social Security Administration and $2,376 in restitution to the Maine Department of Health and Human Services.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Brenneis since July 1995 has received Supplemental Security Income benefits, known as SSI, which are paid to people with limited income who are blind, disabled or elderly.
From April 2015 through January 2017, Brenneis also received Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and Maine State SSI Supplement benefits.
And from February 2011 through January 2017, Brenneis lived with his wife, whose receipt of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits rendered him ineligible for the benefits he received during that period.
According to court records, Brenneis falsely represented to the SSA and to Maine’s DHHS he was living alone and not receiving help or money from any other period during this time.
He later admitted to federal agents he concealed his living situation from SSA and Maine DHHS because he knew his wife’s benefits would make him ineligible to receive SSI, SNAP benefits and other state assistance.
Brenneis pleaded guilty to the charges in September 2018.
He had faced up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for Social Security fraud, and up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for theft of public money.
The investigation was conducted by the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General and Fraud Investigation and Recovery Unit at the Maine Department of Health and Human Services.
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