MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. -- U.S. Attorney W. Walter Wilkins stated today that Samuel R. Pickerel, of Myrtle Beach, was indicted by a federal grand jury for theft of $56,255.98 in government funds from the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board.
Authorities allege that Pickerel applied for and received federal disability benefits, claiming he could not work, when in fact he had been working at various jobs in Myrtle Beach during the same period.
The maximum penalty Pickerel could receive is a fine of $250,000 and imprisonment for 10 years.
Wilkins stated that the case was investigated by agents of the Railroad Retirement Board and that Asst. U.S. Attorney William E. Day, II, of the Florence office, will prosecute the case.
(The preceding article appeared on the Web site www.thesunnews.com on March 30, 2009.)