Macon businessman convicted of stealing more than $100k in railroad disability benefits

A Macon businessman accused of cheating the government was convicted in federal court this week.

A jury found Demetris Hill, 54, guilty of one count of theft of government property and one count of false claims against the government, the U.S. Department of Justice announced Wednesday.

Hill faces a maximum prison term of 15 years, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release per count. Sentencing is set for Jan. 10.

According to court records, Hill collected more than $100,000 in full disability benefits from the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) while running a “financially successful” cleaning business.

“Hill helped open a cleaning company, styling himself as an executive and partner of the company, and as its resident agent. Over the years, Hill’s involvement in the business grew to include money and client management, along with other day-to-day operations,” said the U.S. States Attorney’s office for the Middle District of Georgia.

“As the business became more financially successful, Hill continued to collect full disability benefits from RRB that he was not entitled to due to his work and financial earnings.”

Hill applied for disability and was approved in May 2012. As part of the application process, he agreed to report any work, earnings or changes to his disability status to the RRB.

Hill received annual reminders to report the information but failed to do so after he helped start his cleaning company in 2013, the government said.