An Essex County man has been sentenced for fraudulently obtaining federal benefits intended for a missing woman's disabled son. Asmar Earp, 37, of Newark, received a 38-month prison sentence for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft charges. Additionally, he faces an 8-month sentence for violating supervised release.
U.S. District Judge Evelyn Padin in Newark presided over the court where Earp previously pleaded guilty to the charges. The indictment accused him of stealing benefits after his romantic partner, identified as V.W., disappeared. V.W. had been receiving monthly payments through a Social Security Administration program for her disabled son, known as Victim-1.
V.W. went missing on December 24, 2017. Shortly after, Earp gained unauthorized access to the benefits by altering the PIN code associated with the debit card used for these funds. In the months following, Earp used V.W.'s personal information to obtain a replacement debit card to continue accessing the benefits illicitly. From December 2017 to February 2020, Earp, along with others, misappropriated these funds.
U.S. Attorney Alina Habba credited the investigation efforts to special agents from the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, Boston New York Field Division, and the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel H. Rosenblum.
Earp's defense was represented by Timothy Donahue, Assistant Federal Public Defender.