PITTSBURGH – A Beaver County resident has been sentenced in federal court to four months’ incarceration followed by three years of supervised release on his conviction of theft of government funds and social security fraud, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.

United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon imposed the sentence on Gerald Black, 47, of Aliquippa, PA.

According to information presented to the court, Black received and converted approximately $19,743.00 in Supplemental Security Income benefits to which he knew he was not entitled. Additionally, Black concealed and failed to disclose changes to his minor child’s living arrangements with the intent to deceive the Social Security Administration (SSA) as well as knowingly and willfully making a false statement material to his minor child’s right to receive Supplemental Security Income benefits. As a result of Black’s false statements, the SSA distributed 31 checks to Black for his daughter, none of which he was entitled to because his daughter was in Allegheny County’s Office of Children, Youth and Families’ custody.

Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Bissoon stated that a sentence of imprisonment of four months is appropriate when taking a holistic view of the case. The court rejected Black’s request to be sentenced to probation, stating that Black “defrauded the government by using [his] daughter.” The Court expressed that in imposing a sentence of incarceration it considered deterrence to be a primary sentencing factor, coupled with Black’s lengthy criminal history and the serious nature of the offense.

Assistant United States Attorney Rebecca L. Silinski prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

United States Attorney Chung commended the Social Security Administration – Office of Inspector General for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Black.