A Lynn resident, James C. Burdulis, was charged on Mar. 13 in federal court in Boston with receiving stolen government money and making false statements, according to an announcement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The case centers on allegations that Burdulis received approximately $63,959 in stolen Social Security benefits between June 2019 and June 2025. Authorities also allege that he submitted a fraudulent representative payee report to the Social Security Administration in June 2024.
According to the charging document, Burdulis claimed on the report that he spent funds from the Social Security Administration for a beneficiary during 2023 and 2024. However, officials allege that this beneficiary died several years earlier in 2019.
Burdulis faces one count of receiving stolen government money or property and one count of false statements. The first charge carries a potential sentence of up to ten years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss—whichever is greater. The second charge could result in up to five years in prison along with similar supervised release terms and fines. Sentences are determined by a federal district court judge based on U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley said: “The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.” Amy Connelly, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Social Security Administration’s Office of Investigations for Boston Field Division joined Foley in announcing the charges.
