Lynn Man Charged with Receiving Stolen Government Money and Making False Statements

BOSTON - A Lynn man was charged today in federal court in Boston with receiving stolen Social Security benefits and making false statements.

James C. Burdulis, 56, was charged with one count of receiving stolen government money or property and one count of false statements. Burdulis will make an appearance in federal court in Boston at a later date.

As alleged in the charging document, Burdulis received approximately $63,959 in stolen Social Security benefits from June 2019 through June 2025. Additionally, Burdulis allegedly submitted a fraudulent representative payee report to the Social Security Administration in June 2024. The charging document further alleges that Burdulis stated on the fraudulent report that he spent money received from the Social Security Administration on behalf of a beneficiary in 2023 and 2024, but that the beneficiary died several years earlier in 2019.

The charge of receiving stolen government money or property provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The charge of false statements provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Amy Connelly, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division made the announcement. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Nagelberg of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.