Former police chief sentenced to prison for Social Security fraud

HAYTI HEIGHTS, Mo. -- A former Hayti Heights police chief was sentenced to federal prison for Social Security disability fraud.

Vernis Farmer, 52, of Hayti Heights was sentenced to 21 months' imprisonment on one felony count of making a false statement to obtain Social Security disability benefits and two felony counts of concealing information from the Social Security Administration. The term of imprisonment will be followed by three years of supervised release.

Farmer was convicted of the three charges following a two-day jury trial earlier this year.

The evidence presented during the trial revealed that Farmer was determined to be eligible to receive Social Security disability benefits in the late 1990s. Recipients of such benefits have a number of reporting obligations, including promptly reporting any employment, or change in work activity.

On March 13, 2007, Farmer reported to the Kennett Social Security Office that he was working 20 hours per week and earning only $800 per month, as the police chief for Hayti Heights, between November 2006 and February 2007. The amount of money he reported was important, because the Social Security Disability work rules allowed beneficiaries to earn up to $860 per month in the year 2006 and $900 per month in the year 2007, without having their benefits suspended. Bank records showed that Farmer was receiving $1,920 per month for full-time work as the police chief.

Since Farmer reported his earnings were below the maximum amount, the Social Security Administration continued to pay his disability benefits. In addition, to the nearly two-year term of imprisonment that was ordered, Farmer was ordered to repay $43,374.50. That figure represents the disability benefits Farmer fraudulently received in conjunction with the current criminal case. The District Court found that since 2001, Farmer fraudulently caused the Social Security Administration to make more than $66,000 in disability benefits that should not have been awarded.