Smith County Man Guilty in Social Security Fraud Scheme

TYLER – 51-year-old Kenneth Wise of Bullard has pleaded guilty in Tyler federal court to theft of government property. According to authorities, from March 2007 to April 2011, Wise concealed his ability to work in order to receive more than $65,000 from the Social Security Administration in the form of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. The SSDI Program in a federally administered cash assistance program designed to provide a floor of income for workers who become disabled and are unable to work. Wise was indicted by a federal grand jury on Dec. 7, 2011. Wise faces up to 10 years in federal prison at sentencing. A sentencing date has not been set.