A man was convicted of a federal charge of theft of government property in connection with keeping more than $170,000 in Social Security checks for his grandfather after he died.

Marcus C. Williams, 53, of Parmalee Avenue, appeared before U.S. Judge Christopher A. Boyko of Northern Ohio District Court, who sentenced him to 15 months in prison. The government dismissed seven counts of mail fraud and six counts of Social Security fraud at an Oct. 5, 2021, hearing in which Williams pleaded guilty to the theft count.

Boyko also sentenced Williams to three years of supervised release after his prison term and ordered him to pay restitution of $172,943. The defendant will self-report to the U.S. Marshal Service for his prison term.

In a sentencing memo, prosecutors noted that on four separate occasions, the defendant reported to the SSA that his grandfather was alive when he knew that he was not.

“The level of dishonesty present in the defendant’s conduct requires a sentence that reflects just punishment for the offense,” the sentencing memo stated.

Public defenders Stephen Newman and Timothy Ivey, however, asked for probation for their client.

They pointed out Williams had no felony convictions in the past 28 years, and the majority of his prior convictions are for traffic and driving suspension offenses.

“He did not use the funds at issue on a lavish lifestyle,” the public defenders wrote. “Mr. Williams was having difficulties coping with life and utilized the funds merely to maintain the basic necessities of life.”

Williams’ lawyers said the defendant is working as a janitor supervisor at a university and works in the same capacity at a neighborhood gym. They said he will lose the jobs if he is incarcerated. The public defenders stated Williams needs the jobs to pay the restitution.

gvogrin@tribtoday.com