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A Salt Lake man was arrested Wednesday morning by the FBI for allegedly stealing $223,925 in state disability benefits for his mother after she died in 2000.
Steven Splater, 58, was indicted by a Federal Grand Jury on Jan. 16 for mail fraud.
A three-count federal indictment said that from March 2000 through July 2011 Splater defrauded the state out of $223,925 in disability payments that were intended for the benefit of his mother, Edith Splater, who had died. He allegedly falsely asserted to the state that she was still alive in order to continue receiving these benefits.
Edith Splater died on March 3, 2003, the indictment said. However, the defendant continued to receive disability payments until July 5, 2011.
The investigation was conducted primarily by the investigators of the state’s Attorney General’s office.
Splater is expected make his initial appearance in federal court Wednesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Barry Kurren.
The maximum penalty for mail fraud is 20 years imprisonment per count.
