Arizona man accused of stealing deceased mother’s Social Security benefits

A Tucson man was indicted by a federal grand jury earlier this month on a theft of government money charge, officials announced.

Ruffin Alford III, 48, is alleged to have kept $104,013 in Social Security benefits put into his dead mother’s account between October 2020 and August 2025, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona.

His next court appearance is scheduled for Sept. 25.

If convicted, he faces a maximum of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Alford’s case was investigate by the Social Security Administration’s Office of Inspector General.

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