Eric Christopher Conn (born September 29, 1960) is an American former attorney and convicted felon who is best known for his role in orchestrating the largest Social Security fraud scheme in United States history.[1] The Social Security Administration estimated that Conn's fraud scheme cost the government around $550 million.[1][2] He was captured in December 2017 after six months on the run and was subsequently sentenced to 27 years in prison.[3][4]
Eric C. Conn | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 29, 1960 Pikeville, Kentucky |
| Other names | "Mr. Social Security" |
| Occupation | Attorney (former) |
| Known for | Social Security fraud scheme |
Early life and education
editConn was born in Pikeville, Kentucky, to a family with a long history of practicing law in the area. He attended Betsy Layne High School, where he excelled academically and participated in various extracurricular activities. After graduating in 1978, he attended the University of Kentucky, where he earned his bachelor's degree in 1982. He went on to earn his Juris Doctor degree from the Ohio Northern University College of Law in Ada, Ohio. in 1987.[5]
Legal career
editEric C. Conn began his legal career in 1987, specializing in Social Security disability claims. He quickly gained a reputation as a highly successful and flamboyant attorney, known for his aggressive marketing tactics, such as purchasing billboards, radio and television ads, and using the nickname "Mr. Social Security."[5][6] In the 1990s and 2000s, he became one of the top disability lawyers in the United States, managing a lucrative law firm based in Stanville, Kentucky, with clients spanning the entire country.[7]
Social Security fraud scheme
editConn's fraud scheme, which ran from 2004 to 2016, involved submitting thousands of falsified medical documents prepared by corrupt "whore doctors" (in Conn's words), who he bribed to produce fraudulent medical evidence to support his clients' claims, often without ever examining the clients.[8] The submissions received unquestioning approval by corrupt Huntington, West Virginia-based Social Security Administrative Law Judge David B. Daugherty, who took $609,000 in bribes from Conn to approve the unmerited disability claims.[8] This enabled Conn to collect millions of dollars in fees, in total, from his clients and the Social Security Administration.[9]
Investigation and conviction
editIn 2011, The Wall Street Journal exposed Conn's fraud scheme,[7] prompting an investigation by the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. The investigation culminated in a 2013 report that detailed Conn's fraudulent activities and led to criminal charges being filed against him.
In March 2017, Conn pleaded guilty to one count of theft of government money and one count of payment of gratuities. He was placed under house arrest pending sentencing but cut off his electronic monitoring device in June 2017, becoming a fugitive. After six months on the run, Conn was captured in La Ceiba, Honduras and extradited to the United States.[10] In September 2018, he was sentenced to 27 years in prison for his role in the fraud scheme.[3]
As of July 2023[update], he remains in custody at FCI Fort Dix, New Jersey, 40 mi (64 km) from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with a scheduled release date of November 2039.[11]
In addition, Administrative Law Judge David B. Daugherty, who took bribes from Conn in return for fraudulent approval of over 3,000 claims, pleaded guilty to two counts of accepting illegal gratuities, was sentenced to four years in prison and required to pay restitution of $93 million;[8] incarcerated in 2017, Daugherty died in prison in 2019, aged 83.[12] As well, psychologist Alfred Bradley Adkins, who accepted bribes in exchange for signing false medical forms, was convicted of wire fraud, mail fraud, conspiracy to commit fraud, and making false statements, receiving a sentence of 25 years in prison;[8][13] as of July 2023[update], he remains in custody at FCI Ashland, 5 mi (8.0 km) outside of Ashland, Kentucky, with a scheduled release date of December 2037.[14]
Legacy
editImpacts on the Social Security disability system
editThe Eric C. Conn case raised significant concerns about the vulnerability of the Social Security disability system to fraud and led to reforms aimed at improving oversight and accountability. In the wake of the scandal, thousands of Conn's former clients were subject to claim re-evaluations, leading to financial hardship and distress for many individuals.[15][16] This included clients who would otherwise have been approved for disability, but were unknowingly entangled by Conn's scheme to get their original benefits through his bribery and fraud rather than legitimate medical review and documentation.[8]
The Big Conn
editOn 6 May 2022, Apple TV+ released a multi-part docuseries, called The Big Conn. The series was produced by McMillion$'s production company, FunMeter; an accompanying podcast was also produced for each episode.[17][18]
References
edit- ^ a b Office of Public Affairs (2018). "Fugitive Lawyer Involved in Largest Social Security Fraud Scheme Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for His Escape and Related Crimes". Department of Justice. Retrieved 14 Apr 2023.
- ^ Office of Public Affairs (2018). "Fugitive Lawyer Pleads Guilty for His Escape and Role in $550 Million Social Security Fraud Scheme". Department of Justice. Retrieved 14 Apr 2023.
- ^ a b Wolfson, Andrew (4 Dec 2017). "Fugitive Kentucky Lawyer Eric Conn Captured in Honduras After Six Months on the Lam". Louisville Courier-Journal. Retrieved 14 Apr 2023.
- ^ Wymer, Garrett (7 Sep 2018). "Eric Conn Sentenced 15 Additional Years in Prison, Owes Millions in Restitution". WYMT. Retrieved 14 Apr 2023.
- ^ a b Estep, Bill (5 Dec 2017). "'A Really Odd Person:' Fugitive Lawyer Eric C. Con's Bizarre Life Story". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved 14 Apr 2023.
- ^ Conn Greer, Chelise (2018). "Less Due Process Than Terrorists: An Analysis of the Eric C. Conn Fiasco". Kentucky Law Journal. 107 (1): 149–168.
- ^ a b Galofaro, Claire; Schreiner, Bruce (5 Apr 2016). "Disability Lawyer Eric Conn Arrested on Federal Charges". Associated Press. Retrieved 14 Apr 2023.
- ^ a b c d e "Conn's Job". American Greed. Season 12. Episode 6. Kurtis Productions. 2018-04-02. CNBC.
- ^ United States v. Conn, 5:16-cr-00022 (E.D. Ky. 1 April 2016).
- ^ King, Eric (5 Dec 2017). "Fugitive Eastern KY attorney Eric Conn captured in Honduras". WLKY. Louisville, KY. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
- ^ "Find an inmate | Find By Number | BOP Register Number: 20834-032". Federal Bureau of Prisons. 2023-07-22. Retrieved 2023-07-22.
Name: ERIC CHRISTOP CONN | Register Number: 20834-032 | Release Date: 11/29/2039 | Located At: FCI Fort Dix
- ^ Hessler, Courtney (2019-10-23). "Huntington-based judge convicted in Conn scheme dies in prison". The Herald-Dispatch. Archived from the original on 2019-10-24. Retrieved 2023-07-23.
- ^ Dinan, Stephen (2017-09-17). "Alfred Bradley Adkins, psychologist in massive Social Security fraud case, gets 25-year sentence". The Washington Times. Archived from the original on 2017-09-23. Retrieved 2023-07-23.
- ^ "Find an inmate | Find By Number | BOP Register Number: 20835-032". Federal Bureau of Prisons. 2023-07-23. Retrieved 2023-07-22.
Name: ALFRED BRADLEY ADKINS | Register Number: 20835-032 | Release Date: 12/05/2037 | Located At: FCI Ashland
- ^ "Kentucky fraudster's disability clients remain in legal mess". News 4 Buffalo. 2021-10-08. Retrieved 2023-04-16.
- ^ Wolfson, Andrew (10 Jan 2023). "500 of disbarred lawyer Eric Conn's former clients may finally get their benefits back". Louisville Courier-Journal. Louisville, KY. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
- ^ "Apple TV+ celebrates the world premiere of the new true crime documentary series "The Big Conn" ahead of its May 6 global debut" (Press release). Cupertino, CA: Apple. 5 May 2022.
- ^ Roeper, Richard (5 May 2022). "'The Big Conn': How a flashy Kentucky lawyer got caught swindling millions from Social Security". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 5 May 2023.