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A Bladenboro man pleaded guilty June 21 to theft of government property and Social Security fraud, according to a press release from the Department of Justice, Eastern District of North Carolina.

According to court documents, Leslie McCrae Dowless, 65, defrauded the Social Security Administration by concealing his work and income while receiving monthly benefits payments.

“In February 2013, Dowless applied for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. In the application, Dowless claimed that he was unable to work due to a disability,” stated the release. “Dowless received SSI benefits until July 2018, when he applied for Retirement Insurance Benefits (RIB). In his application for RIB, Dowless stated that he did not expect to work in 2018 and had not worked in the two years preceding his application. Dowless received RIB benefits through November 2018.”

Dowless was required to report certain events to the Social Security Administration, including changes in his work activity, income or resources, according to the release.

“Unbeknownst to the Social Security Administration, Dowless worked as a consultant for at least two political campaigns during the 2018 Midterm Elections,” the release continued. “From March 2017 to November 2018, Dowless received at least 59 checks totaling $135,365.57 for consulting work. Dowless failed to report his work and income to the Social Security Administration.”

Dowless pleaded guilty to theft of government property, 18 U.S.C. § 641 and Social Security Fraud, 42 U.S.C. § 1383a(a)(3) and faces a maximum penalty of 180 months in prison when sentenced on August 23, 2021.

G. Norman Acker III, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle accepted the plea. The Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General and the Federal Burea of Investigation are investigating the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Toby Lathan is prosecuting.

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