New York Attorney General Letitia James announced the arrest and conviction of Marc Silverman, Jr., a former New York City Department of Correction captain. Silverman was charged with fraudulently collecting over $200,000 in Social Security benefits. Despite claiming disability since 2020 due to job-related injuries, he had been employed as a full-time special education bus driver since 2017.
Silverman’s tenure at NYC DOC spanned from 1990 to 2016. Afterward, he worked for Vinny’s Bus Service, where he annually affirmed his physical capability to work to the New York State Department of Education.
The Social Security Administration approved his disability benefits application in 2021, resulting in him receiving approximately $212,000 under false pretenses.
In Richmond County Court, Silverman pleaded guilty before Judge Alexander Jeong to charges of Welfare Fraud in the Fourth Degree and Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree. As part of his plea deal, he must complete 300 hours of community service by September 15 or risk jail time.
Attorney General James expressed gratitude towards the Office of the Inspector General Social Security Administration for their assistance. The investigation involved contributions from Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge Julian Lugo and Special Agent-in-Charge Conor Washington from SSA’s Eastern Cooperative Disability Investigations Division.
Detectives William Fitzgerald and Joseph Buffolino conducted the investigation for OAG. The case is prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Abigail Margulies under Public Integrity Bureau Chief Gerard Murphy and Deputy Bureau Chief Kiran Heer, with Senior Analyst Crystal Bisbano’s assistance. The Division for Criminal Justice oversees both bureaus involved in this case.
