DOJ: Hillsborough County man stole his deceased wife’s Social Security benefits

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) – A man who formerly lived in Hillsborough County has been convicted of stealing his late wife’s Social Security benefits.

According to the Justice Department, 64-year-old Albert Bayer will have to forgo the $76,547 he received from his wife’s disability benefits.

Bayer’s wife died on March 31, 2015, but her death was never reported to the Social Security Administration. As a result, Bayer received Social Security benefits from April 2015 through June 2023 and used that money for himself.

Bayer pleaded guilty in March and was sentenced on Thursday to one year and one day in federal prison for theft of government funds.