Multimillionaire admits to collecting dead mother's social security for 23 years

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/multimillionaire-collects-dead-mom-social-security-23-years-article-1.1578838

By Lee Moran / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Tuesday, January 14, 2014

A multimillionaire who hid his mom's death from the government for more than two decades to claim $200,000 in benefits has been sent to prison.

Taco Bell franchise owner Raymond O'Dell, who is worth $4 million, did not notify authorities when his mother died so he could cash her Social Security checks.

The wealthy 70-year-old, from Bellevue, Wash., carried out the scam for 23 years but was busted when Social Security officials asked to speak to his mother.

O'Dell pleaded guilty and was sentenced to six months in prison after a hearing Monday.

Later this month, he is expected to also plead guilty to charges of stealing $100,000 from the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System.

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O'Dell was also ordered to pay $188,436.74 restitution and a $20,000 penalty.