Confession: Shirley Man Steals Dead Brother's ID To Collect $160K In Disability While Working

Publish date: 2024-05-17

Stavros Tsakonis, age 61, of Shirley, pleaded guilty to identity theft and related charges in Suffolk County Court on Wednesday, July 26.

Prosecutors said Tsakonis received more than $160,000 in disability benefits between February 2015 and January 2023 while claiming to the US Social Security Administration that he was too disabled to work.

In reality, investigators discovered that he had been working as a plumber since February 2015 under the name of his deceased half-brother, Chris Tsakonis, a US Army and Vietnam War veteran who died in 2012.

Tsakonis admitted to using his brother’s social security number and date of birth to hide income he earned while continuing to collect his disability benefits.

He also used his brother’s identity to obtain a New York State driver’s license and open bank accounts that were used to deposit his earnings.

In January 2023, Tsakonis was seen entering the Social Security Administration office in Patchogue using a walker. After filling out paperwork saying he had not worked since February 1989 due to a disability, he was seen walking out of the building unaided, prosecutors said.

Investigators determined that Tsakonis also bought several vehicles that were then registered in his brother’s name and used the man’s driver’s license to apply for and renew a plumbing license.

“Greed led this defendant to exploit the death of his brother, so that he could work under his brother’s name and simultaneously claim a full disability under his own name,” Suffolk County DA Raymond Tierney said.

“Instead of respecting his brother’s memory, this defendant used the opportunity to start a plumbing business and purchase vehicles, while lining his own pockets with fraudulently obtained taxpayer funds for a supposed disability.”

In court Wednesday, Tsakonis pleaded guilty to the following charges:

Tsakonis is expected to be sentenced to six months in jail followed by five years of probation. 

He is also required to pay $169,333 in restitution to the US Social Security Administration.

Sentencing is set for Tuesday, Oct. 3. 

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