Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 74-year-old Marvin Tucker, also known as Thomas Savage, of Buffalo pleaded guilty before State Supreme Court Justice Paul B. Wojtaszek to one count of Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, a Class “C” felony, one count of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a Class “D” felony, and one count of Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the Second Degree, a Class “A” misdemeanor. 

On June 18, 2018, the defendant went to the Department of Motor Vehicles on Dingens Street in the City of Buffalo to renew a driver’s license using the name and personal identifiers for Thomas Savage. The DMV used facial recognition to determine that the defendant was not Thomas Savage and the application was falsified.

Further investigation by the Erie County District Attorney’s Office and the Social Security Administration found that the defendant has been fraudulently using identity of Thomas Savage for approximately 35 years. The investigation revealed that between May 1, 1984 and May 1, 2018, the defendant received $291,624 in disability payments under his legal name. During that time, the defendant was employed under the identity of Thomas Savage. Starting in January 1, 2011 through May 1, 2018, the defendant collected $114,416 in retirement benefits as Thomas Savage.

As part of his plea, the defendant signed a confession of judgement to repay $291,624 to the Social Security Administration.

Tucker faces a maximum of 23 years in prison when he is sentenced on Thursday, September 26, 2019 at 9:30 a.m. He was released on his own recognizance.

DA Flynn commends Investigator Yost of the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Investigator Kabat of the United States Social Security Administration, and the New York State Inspector General’s Office for their assistance in the investigation.

The case was prosecuted by Candace K. Vogel, Chief of the DA’s Special Investigations and Prosecutions Bureau.