From the Villages-News in Florida (where else?)
A 74-year-old Villager has been arrested after allegedly attempting to rob a local bank claiming he had been “cut off” by Social Security.
Joseph Vincent Albanese ... walked into the Wells Fargo bank on U.S. Hwy. 441 in Lady Lake at about noon Monday and slipped a pre-written note to a bank teller ... The bank teller removed $700 in cash from her drawer and placed it into a pillow case carried in by Albanese.
He “kept apologizing” and sat down in the main lobby area. Bank employees quickly evacuated customers out of the lobby.
When deputies arrived at the bank, Albanese was still sitting in the lobby. He said Social Security just “cut him off.”
This happens more often than you think. He was a former Bureau Of Prisons(BoP)inmate released in 97. He knew how to commit a non-violent federal crime. He will get what he seeks, 3 hots and a cot in BoP camp.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, some people have a tough time in community due to lack of resources and revert to what they know.
Cut off of SSA at 74 years old? Error in the computer systems? The bank robbery was not SSA's fault, but a retiree/elderly should never be treated so badly that they have to rob a bank! Something's fishy with his being "cut off" thing at 74. d:-/
ReplyDeleteThere are so many possible reasons. Changed banks and closed account before SSA changed info to new bank or change made but too late for the next deposit. He has more than one bank account and he forgot which bank direct deposit was made to. Change of address not reported so mail returned resulting in suspension. Overpayment that he did not address so entire check withheld. Those would be my first guesses.
DeleteI think he probably had some emotional disabilities as well. Robbing a bank over "errors" is a bit extreme for an elderly man, or anyone really.
ReplyDelete3:34 extreme times call for extreme measures when your only income is gone. SSA will not fix it immediately, "you will get your back pay in a month or two" and guess what, you kinda gotta eat during those months, and pay bills, rent, utilities, maybe medications.
ReplyDeleteTell you what. Let me take all your money, for a month or two, all of it. and let me see if you feel a little bit "extreme."
Shouldn’t be ALL of it, but ok.
Delete@334 I didn't think it had been established that he lost any money or not. It could have been as little as a letter (poorly written) that he misunderstood.
ReplyDeleteAhh the holiday spirit in full tilt here. Peace on Earth good will to no one.
ReplyDeleteHe would’ve probably known this months before and he could’ve appealed it ! Social Security just doesn’t do what he’s saying? Why didn’t you he go to an attorney or get some clearer understanding from Social Security, if this is true that’s a terrible way to treat a senior citizen
ReplyDeleteHe should have been able to go to a lawyer and find out what's going with his check. A 74 year old does not get cut off with no notice, even if it's SSI. Legal Services once helped with stuff like that, but they're cut so badly, there's a limit to what they can do.
ReplyDeleteA man I represented came here upset that his check hadn't come. Turned out he had moved but only reported that through the forwarding address at the post office. His check was sent and the part of town he received his check hadn't experienced mail delivery yet. I explained that he had to change his address directly with Social Security and to go wait on his check at the old address.