Mark Alan Barnes, a 44-year-old resident of Candler, North Carolina, has been sentenced to 16 months in prison and three years of supervised release for Social Security benefits fraud. The sentencing was announced by Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Court records show that between 2015 and 2020, Barnes collected about $77,770 in Social Security Retirement Benefits intended for a deceased beneficiary. Rather than notifying the Social Security Administration (SSA) of the beneficiary’s death as required, Barnes continued to access these funds using a debit card linked to the beneficiary’s bank account at local ATMs.
Barnes pleaded guilty on February 8, 2025, to theft of government funds.
“Stealing Social Security benefits is stealing from every taxpayer,” said U.S. Attorney Ferguson. “For Social Security to work, benefits must go only to those who earned them—not fraudsters. I appreciate the strong partnership of the Social Security Administration in holding fraudsters accountable.”
The investigation was conducted by the Office of the Inspector General at the Social Security Administration.
This case reflects ongoing efforts by federal authorities in western North Carolina to deter theft of government funds and prosecute those who steal benefits relied upon by millions across the country.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Frick prosecuted the case. Frick is assigned from the SSA as a prosecutor focusing on SSA fraud cases in Charlotte under a partnership between the SSA and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Suspected fraud involving Social Security can be reported online at oig.ssa.gov or via the SSA-OIG’s hotline at 1-800-269-0271.
