Merrimack Man Steals $170K In Dead Mother's Benefits, Avoids Jail

MERRIMACK, NH -- A Merrimack man avoided jail this week after admitting to stealing more than $170,000 in Social Security and pension checks from his dead mother's accounts over the course of a decade. David Laughton, 53, was sentenced to a year of home confinement and three years probation Tuesday in federal court in Concord. He was also ordered to pay restitution.

Laughton's mother died in 2005 and Laughton gained access to her bank account, according to New Hampshire U.S. Attorney Scott Murray.

"Laughton did not advise (the government) ... of his mother’s death," Murray said in a statement. "Instead, for approximately a decade, he withdrew the money from his deceased mother’s bank account to pay for his own personal expenses."

Laughton admitted to stealing $118,031 worth of Social Security checks and $54,376 worth of pension checks. He pleaded guilty in June.

"Social Security and pension benefits provide vital support for many individuals," Murray said in a statement. "However, these funds should only go to those who are entitled to receive them. Those who try to cheat the system by stealing funds from federal benefits programs are committing a serious federal crime and will be prosecuted."

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