Opelousas man pleads guilty to theft of government funds

Posted: Feb 8, 2012 4:14 PM by Melissa Canone

United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced that Kevin V. Leday, 46, of Opelousas, La., pled guilty today in federal court to theft of government
money. Leday was charged in December of 2011 in a two-count indictment for theft of money from an agency of the United States and obtaining social security benefits by fraud.

According to court documents filed, Leday applied for disability insurance benefits in April of 2002 through the Social Security Administration (SSA) Office in Opelousas, La., claiming that he was unable to work as a result of an injury which caused physical impairment expected to last at least one year. As a part of the claim, he signed a form certifying that he would notify SSA if his medical condition improved and he was able to return to work. SSA approved Leday's claim and began paying him and his dependent children disability benefit payments in July 2002. The defendant returned to work in July of 2006, but failed to notify SSA and continued to receive payments through September of 2010. Leday admitted at the plea hearing that he was aware he had a duty to truthfully and timely report his work activity, but failed to do so.

As a result of Leday's concealment of employment and earnings from July of 2006 through September of 2010, he and his dependent children wrongfully received $41,805.60 in monies belonging to the Social Security Administration.

At sentencing, Leday faces a term of imprisonment of not more than 10 years, a fine of not more than $250,000.00, or both, and a term of supervised release of not more than three years. Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date.