{"id":24369,"date":"2016-06-14T19:44:07","date_gmt":"2016-06-15T02:44:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=24369"},"modified":"2016-06-14T19:44:07","modified_gmt":"2016-06-15T02:44:07","slug":"attorney-convicted-for-falsely-reporting-that-his-wife-was-destitute-to-collect-ssi-payments","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=24369","title":{"rendered":"Attorney Convicted for Falsely Reporting That His Wife Was Destitute to Collect SSI Payments"},"content":{"rendered":"

GREENEVILLE, TENN<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

A lawyer was found guilty Monday of stealing money from the federal government by falsely reporting that his wife was destitute and collecting Supplemental Security Income or SSI payments, officials announced Tuesday.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Everett H. Mechem<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u00a0 After a five-day trial, a federal jury convicted Everett H. Mechem,<\/strong> 57, \u00a0on Monday of 28 counts of wire fraud, two counts of \u00a0SSI fraud, two counts of providing false statements, and one count of theft from the United States.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sentencing is set for Sept. 21, officials said.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to the evidence presented at trial, from January 2009 to July 2013, Mechem, acting as the attorney and representative payee for his wife, Sheila A. Mechem, schemed to defraud the federal government get SSI \u00a0for her to which she was not entitled.<\/span><\/p>\n

Everett Mechem reported that he was living separately from his wife and that she had little to no income or resources. \u00a0Meanwhile, husband and wife rented a five-bedroom home together in Kingsport, Tenn., purchased a new home in 2012, and shared in the profits of Everett Mechem\u2019s law practice, according to officials.<\/span><\/p>\n

Additionally, Everett Mechem concealed that his wife was working as a paralegal and office manager at the Mechem Law Firm, P.C. in Kingsport.<\/span><\/p>\n

She also served as a commercial spokesperson for Everett Mechem\u2019s affiliated business, the Consumer Law Center, all while Everett Mechem collected monthly SSI payments for his wife\u2019s claimed inability to work.<\/span><\/p>\n

Nancy Harr, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Tennessee said, \u201cAs a program meant to help those who can\u2019t afford the basic necessities of life, the integrity of the Social Security Administration\u2019s SSI program is vital to its continued success. The U.S. Attorney\u2019s Office will continue to pursue and prosecute those who attempt to defraud that federal program and the United States.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOne of our highest priorities is ensuring that those who steal SSA payments are swiftly detected and prosecuted.\u00a0 I\u2019m grateful that the U.S. Attorney\u2019s Office shares our determination to protect the integrity of the SSA\u2019s programs for those who rely on them now and into the future,\u201d Special Agent in Charge Margaret Moore-Jackson, SSA\/Office of the Inspector General (OIG).<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

(Mechem Law Firm Ad)<\/strong><\/p>\n