James C. Burdulis, a resident of Lynn, pleaded guilty on April 7 in federal court in Boston to charges of receiving stolen Social Security benefits and making false statements.
Burdulis, age 57, admitted to one count each of receiving stolen government money or property and making false statements. U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs scheduled his sentencing for July 8. He was charged on March 26.
According to court documents, Burdulis received approximately $63,959 in Social Security benefits from June 2019 through June 2025 that were intended for a beneficiary who had died in May 2019. Before the beneficiary’s death, Burdulis had been appointed as their representative payee responsible for managing their Social Security benefits and submitting regular accountings to the Social Security Administration (SSA).
Between June 2020 and June 2024, prosecutors said Burdulis submitted five fraudulent representative payee reports under penalty of perjury to the SSA stating he spent money on behalf of the deceased beneficiary after their death. In September 2020, he also submitted a fraudulent verification form claiming that the deceased individual continued living at the same address.
The charge of receiving stolen government money or property carries a maximum sentence of 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 charge of making false statements carries up to five years in prison with similar terms for supervised release 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 announced the plea along with Amy Connelly, Special Agent-in-Charge for the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General’s Boston Field Division. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Nagelberg is prosecuting.
