Fountain man sentenced for collecting disability benefits he wasn’t eligible for

The Department of Justice says a Fountain man is headed to prison after collecting $130,000 in disability benefits that he was not eligible for.

Albert Lender, 62, was ordered to serve three months in federal prison, followed by three years on supervised release.

Lender was also ordered to pay more than $130,000 in restitution to the federal government.

On August 22, 2014, Lender pleaded guilty to two counts of making false statements to the federal government.

According to the plea agreement, Lender received benefits at a 100 percent disability rating from the Department of Veterans Affairs in 1991. That same year, he also began receiving benefits at a 100 percent disability rating from the Social Security Administration. Both agencies advised Lender that should his status change, he was to notify the agencies immediately. He also received follow up letters reinforcing that advisement.

The Department of Justice says that prior to January 2005 , Lender was involved in the formation of Zac Towne Paint & Quarter Horses, listing his wife as the sole proprietor.

It says that he negotiated contracts on behalf of Zac Towne, including one with the City of Fountain for landscaping, ground maintenance, snow removal, and related services.

It says Lender also worked to secure other contracts and that once the contracts were awarded; he would do some of the work, which included landscaping, ground maintenance and snow removal.

The Department of Justice says that based on Lender’s false representations and material omissions to both the VA and the SSA, Lender received more than $130,000 in disability benefits for which he was ineligible.