Roaring Spring Man Sentenced for Obtaining Stolen Benefits

A Roaring Spring man who pled guilty in federal court to stealing government funds was sentenced last week to 180 days of home detention, three years of probation and ordered to make restitution.

Glenn P. Rhykerd, 69, pled guilty in February of illegally obtaining $50,985 in United States Railroad Retirement Board disability payments from Jan.1, 2015, to May 31, 2016.

The Railroad Retirement Board, Office of Inspector General, charged Rhykerd with lying on his disability application to gain benefits he was not entitled to.

In a statement made after the sentencing, Inspector General Martin J. Dickman said, “Lying in disability applications is a serious crime that honest taxpayers cannot abide. Through our ongoing investigation, we will continue to hold accountable those who would abuse a system that is meant for legitimately disabled workers who have served our nation’s railroads.”

Rhykerd was sentenced by United States District Judge Kim R. Gibson. Under federal law, he could have faced a maximum of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.