The husband of a local legislator has been sentenced to four years in federal prison after pleading guilty to several charges, including the use of stolen credit cards and the illegal collection of thousands in Social Security benefits.
Henry A. Fellela Jr., 56, of Johnston, pleaded guilty on April 8 to one count each of credit card fraud, aggravated identity theft and Social Security fraud, as well as two counts of theft of government funds. U.S. District Court Judge John J. McConnell Jr. also ordered Fellela to serve three years of supervised released after his prison term is complete.
Prosecutors say Fellela – who is married to state Rep. Deborah Fellela (D-43) – used stolen credit cards belonging to 17 different individuals to make nearly $83,000 in electronics, clothing, gift card and gasoline purchases in 2007 and collected more than $58,000 in supplemental Social Security benefits from 2004 to 2012 by claiming to have no fixed address while actually living with his wife and children at 3 Diaz St.
In a release announcing the sentencing, the office of U.S. Attorney Peter F. Neronha said evidence showed one of the stolen credit cards was taken from the mailbox of an 85-year-old Smithfield resident in 2010 and used to make nearly $3,100 in purchases.
A further investigation found Fellela activated 16 other credit cards belonging to other individuals between 2008 and 2012 and used those cards to make additional purchases, according to Neronha’s office.
The release indicates the Social Security charges stem from benefits Fellela received after being released from federal prison in March 2004 to begin a 21-month supervised release.
“The conduct by the defendant here was so brazen and so low that it makes it difficult to know where to begin,” Neronha states in the release.
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here