New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli and Special Agent-in-Charge Michael McGill of the Social Security Administration (SSA) Office of the Inspector General, Philadelphia Field Division, today announced the arrest of Charles Alton Bump Jr. for allegedly stealing $53,320 in payments from the New York State Common Retirement Fund and SSA that were sent to his deceased mother, Elizabeth Dorothy Case. Bump concealed his mother’s death and continued collecting her retirement and SSA payments. He allegedly stole $28,679 from the state pension fund and $24,641 from the SSA.
“The allegations in this case are heinous and driven by greed,” DiNapoli said. “The victims here are not just the state pension fund and Social Security, but an elderly woman who was denied dignity and respect at the time of her death. I’m grateful to the Social Security Administration for their partnership in seeing that justice is served.”
“Failing to report the death of an individual in order to obtain Social Security funds or other benefits is a federal crime,” said McGill, “We will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to identify these cases, investigate perpetrators and seek prosecution to hold them accountable for their crimes.”
Elizabeth Dorothy Case was a New York State employee and resident of Jamaica, Queens, who moved to Maryland to live with her son, Bump. In 2019, a concerned neighbor reported to the SSA that Case, who was approximately 90 years old at the time, had not been seen in over a year. After repeated attempts to contact her, the SSA requested that she appear in person in order to continue receiving her payments. When her son appeared instead, the SSA questioned him. He stated that she was out of the country, on an extended tour of Europe and only reachable by e-mail. Authorities confirmed, however, that Case had no passport and had never left the country. Bump eventually admitted to officials that his mother had died. Investigators believe he disposed of her body.
Bump, 62, is being prosecuted by the State’s Attorney’s Office in Somerset County Maryland. He was arraigned on January 19th in the District Court for Somerset County, Criminal and is due back in court on February 16, 2023. He is charged with three counts of felony theft.
The charges filed in this case are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Since taking office in 2007, DiNapoli has committed to fighting public corruption and encourages the public to help fight fraud and abuse. New Yorkers can report allegations of fraud involving taxpayer money by calling the toll-free Fraud Hotline at 1-888-672-4555, by filing a complaint online at https://www.osc.state.ny.us/investigations, or by mailing a complaint to: Office of the State Comptroller, Division of Investigations, 8th Floor, 110 State St., Albany, NY 12236.