DeKalb Co. man pleads guilty to cashing dead mom's checks

ROCKFORD — A DeKalb County man has entered a guilty plea to federal charges he cashed Social Security checks payable to his mother, who has been dead for 25 years.

Prosecutors say the mother of the 67-year-old Roger Fessler of Kingston died in January 1986, and he began endorsing his mother's name on benefit checks payable to her the following month.

Fessler continued the activity until April 2010, and admits in his plea agreement he intentionally failed to notify the Social Security Administration of his mother's death so he could get her benefits.

Direct deposit of Social Security benefits became mandatory in 2000. Prosecutors say Fessler opened a bank account in both his and his mother's names and continued to receive benefits meant for her.

Fessler's sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 18th.