MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — A Newark man has been sentenced to nearly four years in federal prison for stealing Social Security benefits intended for his missing girlfriend’s disabled son, and for violating the terms of a prior supervised release, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced.
Asmar Earp, 37, of Essex County, received a total sentence of 46 months—38 months for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, and an additional 8 months for violating supervised release. The sentence was issued by U.S. District Judge Evelyn Padin in Newark federal court.
Earp pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft, admitting that he fraudulently accessed and misused federal funds meant to support a legally disabled minor.
According to court documents, Earp was living with a woman identified as V.W., who received monthly Social Security benefits on behalf of her disabled son, Victim-1. The child was legally unable to manage his own finances. On December 24, 2017, V.W. was reported missing and has not been found since.
Just days after her disappearance, Earp changed the PIN on the benefits debit card to gain unauthorized access to the funds. In March and April 2018, he used V.W.’s personal information, including her Social Security number, to obtain a replacement card, continuing to siphon funds for more than two years, until February 2020.
The scheme involved Earp and individuals acting on his behalf, authorities stated.
The investigation was led by the Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General, Boston-New York Field Division, under Special Agent-in-Charge Amy Connelly, and the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, headed by Acting Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens II.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel H. Rosenblum of the Narcotics and OCDETF Unit in Newark.
V.W.’s disappearance remains unresolved, and no new updates have been released regarding her whereabouts.
