California man faces up to 25 years in jail after posing as his dead mother for over three DECADES – stealing $830,000 of benefits and racking up $28,000 on credit cards
- Donald Felix Zampach, 65, began the ruse after his mother died in Japan back in 1990
- For over 30 years, he forged her signature on government benefits applications and federal income tax returns – and maintained her bank accounts
- He was finally found out by the Department of Justice and pled guilty to at least one count each of money laundering and Social Security fraud
A California man faces up to 25 years in prison after he admitted to posing as his dead mother for over three decades to claim hundreds of thousands of dollars in benefits and rack up credit card debts.
Donald Felix Zampach, 65, began the ruse after his mother died in Japan back in 1990.
For over 30 years, he forged her signature on government benefits applications and federal income tax returns – and maintained her bank accounts to receive her widow’s pension.
He was finally found out by the Department of Justice and pled guilty to at least one count each of money laundering and Social Security fraud, according to the Southern District of California US Attorney’s Office.
Zampach also admitted to using his mother’s identity to fraudulently open credit accounts with at least nine different financial institutions, ringing up over $28,000 in charges.
A California man faces up to 25 years in prison after he admitted to posing as his dead mother for over three decades to accept hundreds of thousands of dollars in benefits and credit card charges
He also used the money to pay off the mortgage on his home in the San Diego suburb of Poway, which he transferred to himself before she died, then filing for bankruptcy without disclosing that he owned it.
As part of his criminal forfeiture, he will have to give up that house to the government in order to pay restitution.
Knut Johnson, his court-appointed attorney, told the San Diego Union-Tribune Zampach was ‘extremely regretful.’
‘He’s accepted full responsibility and will do everything in his power to make up for what happened.’
‘This crime is believed to be the longest-running and largest fraud of its kind in this district,’ U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman said in the news release.
‘This defendant didn’t just passively collect checks mailed to his deceased mother. This was an elaborate fraud spanning more than three decades that required aggressive action and deceit to maintain the ruse.’
Grossman noted that Zampach attempted to convince investigators that his mother was still alive.
He faces up to 20 years in prison and a $500,000 fine for the money laundering charge.
Donald Felix Zampach, 65, began the ruse after his mother died in Japan back in 1990
Zampach could get an additional five years in prison and another $250,000 fine on the Social Security fraud.
‘For more than three decades, Mr. Zampach failed to report the death of his mother to the Social Security Administration (SSA) and used more than $250,000 in benefits for himself,’ said Gail S. Ennis, Inspector General for SSA.
‘We will continue to pursue and hold those accountable who defraud SSA.’
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