Conn never tried to sneak out of the country and always came home to Kentucky after each trip, Lowell said. He said investigators lacked any corroborating statements from Conn’s current employees at his eastern Kentucky law firm. Some of them tried to steal money from the firm or otherwise cheated Conn before they were let go, he said. Trotman testified that witnesses say Conn’s law firm burned workplace computers and shredded more than 13 tons of paper documents after he learned in May 2011 that the government suspected him of fraud.
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Conn wasn’t shy about recruiting clients.
The brazen scheme involved a lawyer who recruited bogus applicants and faked their medical forms, crooked doctors who signed off on the false forms and a handpicked administrative judge who would spot the applications in the system, grab them and approve them, according to the federal indictment, unsealed Tuesday.
“After the SSA suspension of benefits letter went out in May of 2015, folks flooded Conn’s office and demanded their files because the letters gave then 10 days to retrieve their medical records”. Adkins’ attorney Jonah Stevens said his client “has the presumption of innocence”. “The suggestion that he assisted is laughable”. The losing side can appeal Wier’s decision. A pre-trial hearing in the case is set for May 18, and the trial date is June 7.
The hearing began with an effort by defense attorneys to allow Conn to wear a dress shirt and slacks in court, instead of a jail jumpsuit.
According to court documents, Former Social Security Judge David Daugherty was arrested April 5 and held until Thursday over concerns he might be a flight risk.
As part of the alleged scheme, Mr. Daugherty, sought out cases in which the individual seeking benefits was represented by Mr. Conn, according to the indictment. Investigators obtained arrest warrants for Daugherty who is said to be living in SC and Dr. Adkins. Conn allegedly paid the judge with a portion of the $9,000 to $9,500 in monthly withdrawals he took from his business account. The agency is now working through the complex process of determining whether Mr. Daugherty had sufficient evidence years ago to award benefits to Mr. Conn’s clients, some of whom were evaluated by Mr. Adkins, the psychologist. Two committed suicide before the benefits were restored, although reviews of the cases will be carried out.
While federal prosecutors stalled on the case for years – the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia declined to bring charges – details of Conn and Daugherty’s relationship were exposed in the news media and investigations published by U.S. Senate and House committees. “I am a retired and disabled welder and I was one of the clients to receive a letter from the Social Security Administration to redetermine my disability benefits”.
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“After a request by U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers, R-Somerset, Social Security officials agreed to continue people’s disability checks while redetermining their eligibility”, Cheves reports. None of those people was charged with a crime. Wall Street Journal Reporter Damian Paletta was one of those who uncovered much of the scheme which has now developed into a Justice Department investigation and federal criminal charges.
