$161K in Disability Benefits Stolen by Prince George's County Man: Prosecutor

NEW CARROLLTON, MD — A Prince George's County man who hid the deaths of his sister-in-law and an elderly wife -- and tapped into their income and assets -- so he could collect Social Security benefits, has pleaded guilty to a federal charge.

Calelah John Lattisaw, 58, of New Carrollton, pleaded guilty Monday to wire fraud arising from a scheme to steal $110,107 in social security benefits.

According to his guilty plea, in February 1993, Lattisaw began receiving Supplemental Security Income through the Social Security Administration for a disability. In order to receive benefits, Lattisaw was required to report to SSA information regarding his income, resources and living arrangements.

According to federal prosecutors, Lattisaw admitted that when he applied for benefits, he concealed from the agency that he was living with two other people, both of whom were also receiving SSA benefits.

In addition, Lattisaw took steps to hide additional income and assets from SSA. When Lattisaw's sister-in-law died in 1997 he failed to notify SSA and the U.S. Treasury of her death. He had access to her bank account and withdrew virtually all of the benefits from the account, prosecutors said.

In 2003, Lattisaw married an elderly woman, then attempted to sell her home, but her family blocked the sale and had the marriage annulled. In 2006, Lattisaw moved the woman out of her nursing facility and into the home he shared with his girlfriend.

Authorities say Lattisaw remarried the older woman and gained power of attorney over one of her bank accounts and became the co-signor on another bank account using his alias, John H. Lattisaw, and another person's Social Security number. When his wife died in June 2006, Lattisaw liquidated a certificate of deposit at one of her accounts and withdrew $161,000. Lattisaw then deposited those funds into a new account opened in the name of his alias.

Between 2000 and 2015, Lattisaw received $110,107 in SSI benefits to which he was not entitled, officials said.

Lattisaw and the government have agreed that if the court accepts the plea agreement Lattisaw will be sentenced to three years in prison followed by three years of supervised release. His sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 24.