United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release
June 8, 2009
NEW YORK FUGITIVE PLEADS GUILTY TO MAKING FALSE STATEMENTS TO SOCIAL SECURITY
ADMINISTRATION
Nora R. Dannehy, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut,
announced that LEROY JOHNSON, also known as “Desmond Williams,” “Mike
D. Williams” and “Jayden Gibson,” 47, last residing on Maple Street
in New Haven, pleaded guilty today before United States District Judge Stefan
R. Underhill in Bridgeport to one count of making false statements to the Social
Security Administration when he sought to obtain a replacement social security
card under another person’s name and social security number.
According to documents filed with the Court and statements made in court, on October
22, 2008, Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General agents began
an investigation into an individual using the name “Jayden Gibson” who
had attempted to obtain and new social security card. However, Gibson provided
the SSA with a birth certificate for an individual who is deceased, and the SSA
determined that the Social Security number supplied by Gibson was assigned to
another individual in Chicago. SSA denied the request for a replacement card.
Subsequent investigation into Jayden Gibson’s identity and whereabouts revealed
that “Gibson” was renting an apartment in New Haven under the name “Desmond
Williams,” and was employed under the name of Desmond Williams at a place
of business in Hamden.
On April 28, 2009, SSA-OIG agents interviewed “Gibson” at his place
of work. After giving several misleading and inconsistent statements about his
true identity, an agent advised Gibson of his intent to contact the U.S. Attorney’s
Office for assistance in determining whether an arrest warrant would be sought.
Gibson then
attempted to flee the building and was apprehended by SSA-OIG agents.
Following his arrest, fingerprints determined Gibson’s true identity to be
LEROY JOHNSON.
The fingerprint check also revealed that JOHNSON was the subject of a bench warrant
issued from the New York Supreme Court in Queens County following JOHNSON’s
failure to appear for sentencing, on November 17, 2004, in connection with his
conviction for Engaging in a Course of Conduct Against a Child in the First Degree.
Following his failure to appear for sentencing, JOHNSON was sentenced in absentia
to a 20-year term of incarceration. Judge Underhill has scheduled sentencing for
August 27, 2009, at which time JOHNSON faces a maximum term of imprisonment of
five years and a fine of up to $250,000 for making the false
statements.
In addition, JOHNSON has agreed to be returned to New York to begin service of
his 20-year sentence, and also to face charges related to his failure to appear
at his sentencing in 2004. “The SSA-OIG agents who investigated this matter
deserve praise for their diligent work in identifying this defendant’s true
identity and arresting this sexual predator after he attempted to flee,”
Acting U.S. Attorney Dannehy stated.
This case has been investigated by the Social Security Administration, Office
of Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by Supervisory Assistant United
States Attorney Anthony E. Kaplan.
CONTACT:
U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722
thomas.carson@usdoj.gov