Brian Unger, who now lives in Puerto Rico, previously ran unsuccessfully for mayor and was active in the surfing community.
TRENTON -- A former Long Branch city councilman pleaded guilty in federal court Thursday to a charge he collected his dead wife's Social Security disability checks for more than four years after her death.
The Clarkson S. Fisher Federal Courthouse in Trenton, where Brian Unger pleaded guilty today to a charge of stealing his wife's Social Security disability benefits. Brian Unger, now of Rincon, Puerto Rico, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Trenton to a single charge of stealing government money, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Unger, now 64, previously served on the Long Branch City Council, and ran unsuccessfully for mayor in 2010, losing to incumbent Adam Schneider.
He also was active in the local Surfers' Environmental Alliance, according to previous reports in The Star-Ledger.
Prosecutors said that after Unger's wife died in June 2009, he didn't inform the Social Security Administration of her death. Instead, he continued to access her bank account, ultimately collecting $82,854 in disability benefits through September 2013, according to court documents.
Beginning in June 2013, the disability benefits were converted into retirement insurance benefits, which were not transferrable, the documents state.
Unger admitted that he avoided informing the government of his wife's death in order to continue collection her benefits, according to the government's statement.
Unger faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, prosecutors said. His sentencing has been scheduled for Jan. 18, 2017.
An attempt to reach Unger for comment Thursday afternoon was unsuccessful. His attorney, Charles Uliano, told NJ Advance Media by phone that Unger "accepts responsibility for his actions."
Thomas Moriarty may be reached at tmoriarty@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ThomasDMoriarty. Find NJ.com on Facebook.