BRODHEADSVILLE, PA — Timothy Gritman of Brodheadsville, PA, has been sentenced to 60 months in prison for a fraudulent scheme in which he concealed his father’s death to collect benefits, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

He pilfered Social Security Administration (SSA) retirement benefits and New York State pension benefits, for a total of approximately $204,985. The sentencing, carried out by U.S. District Judge Cynthia Rufe, also includes three years of supervised release. 

Gritman pleaded guilty on February 13, 2023, to 14 counts of wire fraud and one count of Social Security fraud.

Gritman’s father, Ralph, was last seen alive by relatives at Gritman’s Brodheadsville residence in 2016. Subsequently, Gritman relocated to Wyoming with his father. Medicare records indicate that the father’s health benefits were used for an emergency visit to a Wyoming hospital in September 2017 but were never used again.

Investigators believe that Ralph Gritman died around October 2017. Timothy Gritman concealed his father’s death from family members and disposed of Ralph’s body in an unknown manner. Remarkably, Ralph’s SSA and pension benefits continued to be deposited into a joint account with the defendant from approximately October 2017 to October 2022.

During this period, Gritman spun a web of deception, making false statements to government officials. He even physically impersonated his deceased father, using makeup to appear older.