Poway Man Hid Mother's Death For 30 Years; Stole $830K In Benefits: Authorities

POWAY, CA — A Poway man admitted to concealing his mother’s death for more than 30 years while he collected over $830,000 in public funds meant for her, according to authorities.

Donald Felix Zampach, 65, pleaded guilty last week in federal court to money laundering and Social Security fraud, authorities said.

“This was an elaborate fraud spanning more than three decades that required aggressive action and deceit to maintain the ruse,” U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman said in a news release.

Zampach’s mother died in 1990 in Japan, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. At the time of her death, she was getting a widow’s Social Security pension and an annuity from the Department of Defense, authorities said.

Just before she died, Zampach fraudulently conveyed her Poway home and filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, according to authorities, who said he did not disclose his ownership of the residence or the government benefits he was receiving. After her death, he maintained her bank accounts and forged her signature and tax returns, authorities said.

From 1990 to 2022, Zampach received at least $830,238 in stolen public money meant for his mother, according to the justice department. He also used her identity to fraudulently open credit accounts with at least nine financial institutions, causing them to lose over $28,000, authorities said, adding Zampach laundered the stolen money to pay off the mortgage on his Poway residence.

Zampach has agreed to pay more than $830,000 in criminal forfeiture, including forfeiture of his Poway home, according to the department.

He was released on bail pending sentencing, which is set for Sept. 20, authorities said. Zampach faces up to 20 years in prison and a $500,000 fine for the laundering charge and as much as five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the fraud charge, according to authorities.