Updated at 6:45 p.m., Thursday, August 30, 2007
5 people charged with Social Security fraud in Honolulu
Advertiser Staff
Five people were charged today for allegedly defrauding and stealing money from the Social Security system.Patricia Pendleton, 78; Christopher Brester, 58; Roy Delorenia Daano, 74; and Bon Von Jovi, 47, who were indicted by a federal grand jury, and Jeffrey Keola, charged by information, face a maximum prison term of five years for the Social Security offenses, 10 years for theft, and a $250,000 fine if convicted.
Pendleton, also known as Patricia Blackburn and Patricia Uehara, is accused of using two different identities and Social Security numbers to obtain Social Security pensions amounting to about $50,000.
Brester's indictment alleges that he claimed disabilty payments of $158,000 from Social Security while working as a heavy-machine mechanic.
Daano, aka Rufino Daano, is charged with claiming Social Security benefits intended for his former wife and stepchildren totaling $67,000.
Von Jovi, aka Anthony Freel and Little Crowhorse O'bamsawin, is charged with Social Security and passport fraud offenses related to the alleged use of multiple identities and Social Security numbers.
Keola is charged with theft for allegedly collecting Social Security payments of his dead father totaling about $83,000.