DETROIT (WWJ) -- A Detroit man is facing two years in prison for impersonating dead relatives and stealing nearly $1 million in government benefits for more than a decade.
Authorities say 64-year-old Kendrick Allen Gills spent around 14 years impersonating his relative, Jack Farmer, in order to receive money from the government. The office of U.S. Attorney Matthew Schneider says Farmer died in 2004. Officials did not disclose how Gills and Farmer were related.
At that time, Farmer was receiving a federal pension from the Office of Personnel Management, and because OPM was never made aware of his death, the office continued to issue monthly Treasury checks in Farmer's name.
Officials say Gills unlawfully converted the payments for his own use, primarily making electronic withdrawals from a joint bank account he had with Farmer. He also forged Farmer's signature on at least one check. Over a span of about 14 years, Gills collected $566,547 in Farmer's name.
Authorities say Gills also concealed Farmer’s death by submitting multiple forms to the Office of Personnel Management on Farmer’s behalf, making it look as though Farmer was still alive and living with Gills.
During the same period, Gills also unlawfully retained $245,969 in payments made to another deceased relative by the Department of Veterans Affairs, but the name of that relative was not disclosed.
Gills was sentenced Tuesday to two years of prison, and to pay full restitution to the government. He was also ordered to spend three years on supervised release at the end of his prison term.