Johnson City Man Charged in $109K Fraud

David Darling, 59, was arraigned in Binghamton on charges tied to nearly six years of alleged unauthorized Social Security withdrawals.

Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Financial Crime

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a single stone civic building doorway in deep slate and cream, evoking a federal benefits fraud case. — Federal prosecutors charged David Darling, 59, of Johnson City, with access device fraud and aggravated identity theft over nearly six years of unauthorized Social Security withdrawals exceeding $109,000. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

David Darling, 59, of Johnson City, was arraigned in Binghamton before U.S. Magistrate Judge Miroslav Lovric on a multiple-count indictment returned by an Albany grand jury on September 3, 2026. He faces access device fraud, theft of government property, and aggravated identity theft charges.

Why it matters

The case involves a Social Security program loss of over $109,000 tied to funds intended for a deceased beneficiary. The government is seeking forfeiture of $109,746.00, signaling the scale of the alleged financial harm to federal benefits.

Darling faces a maximum of 15 years for access device fraud, 10 years for theft of government property, and a mandatory minimum of 2 years for aggravated identity theft, with fines up to $250,000. The case remains at the arraignment stage, and no plea or trial outcome has been reported.

The players

David Darling

David Darling is a 59-year-old Johnson City, New York resident charged in the federal indictment.

Miroslav Lovric

Miroslav Lovric is a United States Magistrate Judge who presided over Darling's arraignment in Binghamton.

The details

Prosecutors allege Darling used an unauthorized ATM card to withdraw funds intended for a deceased beneficiary over nearly six years. A judge will determine any sentence based on the statutes Darling is convicted of violating and the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and he may be ordered to pay restitution.

September 3, 2026: An Albany grand jury returned the indictment against Darling.
November 6, 2026: Darling was arraigned in Binghamton, NY.

Legal Context

The charges combine access device fraud with the federal aggravated identity theft statute, which carries a mandatory two-year minimum sentence on top of other penalties. Federal prosecutors have used this framework in cases involving misuse of government benefits and identity information.

Residents who receive Social Security benefits should be aware that misuse of deceased beneficiaries' payments is a federal crime that is actively prosecuted. The case underscores how unreported deaths can allow benefit funds to be withdrawn improperly.

The takeaway

Federal benefit programs rely on timely reporting of beneficiary deaths to prevent improper withdrawals. Anyone who learns of such activity can report it to the appropriate federal authorities.