James Sessoms, a 60-year-old resident of Philadelphia, has been sentenced to 28 months in prison for defrauding government benefit programs of more than $1 million. The sentence was handed down by United States District Judge Chad F. Kenney and includes three years of supervised release and restitution totaling $398,708.58.
Sessoms pleaded guilty in April after being indicted in October 2024 on multiple charges: one count of SNAP fraud, seven counts of making false statements related to health care benefits, and seven counts of Social Security fraud.
According to court documents and admissions by Sessoms, the fraudulent activity took place from November 2019 through November 2023. During this period, he used stolen identities and Social Security numbers to file false applications for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid benefits. He submitted these applications using both fictitious names and real individuals’ information without their consent. Fraudulent driver’s licenses with his photograph but under different names were also used as part of the scheme.
Authorities reported that Sessoms added fake family members—including spouses and children—to his benefit applications, which increased the amount awarded for SNAP benefits and resulted in higher Medicaid costs due to coverage for these additional “family members.” He supported these claims with fraudulent birth certificates for the purported children. The Social Security numbers listed were valid but belonged to other people.
From November 2019 to November 2023, Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (PA DHS), with joint federal funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for Medicaid and from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for SNAP benefits, provided coverage based on Sessoms’ fraudulent applications submitted under various aliases.
U.S. Attorney David Metcalf commented on the case: “Stealing money from government programs is an awful crime,” said U.S. Attorney Metcalf. “We will continue to prosecute fraud against the government and hold crooks like Sessoms accountable, on behalf of all the taxpayers funding these programs.”
USDA Office of Inspector General Special Agent in Charge Charmeka Parker stated: “We appreciate the collaboration with our law enforcement partners for their hard work on this investigation. Those who are involved in fraud regarding USDA taxpayer-funded programs will be investigated by our office to protect the integrity of those programs.”
Michelle L. Anderson, Acting Inspector General at the Social Security Administration, said: “Mr. Sessoms orchestrated an audacious scheme—creating fake Social Security numbers while exploiting real ones—to siphon off more than $1 million from programs meant to safeguard the most vulnerable,” said Michelle L. Anderson, Acting Inspector General, Social Security Administration. “Let this case serve as a warning; those who exploit taxpayer-funded programs will be met with aggressive investigation and prosecution.”
The investigation was conducted by several agencies including USDA-OIG, Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General, HHS Office of Inspector General, Homeland Security Investigations, and Pennsylvania Office of State Inspector General. Special Assistant United States Attorney Megan Curran prosecuted the case.
