Fishing guide sentenced to year in prison for fraudulent disability claim

A Southwest Washington fishing guide was sentenced Friday in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to a year in prison for a fraudulent disability claim that spanned eight years.

Billy Jim Swann, 53, was convicted in March, following a three-day trial, of perjury, wire fraud and Social Security fraud for trying to obtain disability benefits to which he wasn’t entitled.

U.S. District Judge Robert J. Bryan described Swann’s actions as a “nefarious scheme” to “lie to get money from the federal government,” according to a press release issued by the U.S. Department of Justice.

Court records and trial testimony show that Swann applied for Social Security disability benefits in 2006, claiming he had been unable to work since 2003. When his claim was denied, he appealed and swore before an administrative law judge that his only work activity was as a volunteer for a few weeks in the summer at an Alaska fishing camp. His claim was again denied, so he appealed in U.S. District Court, making false disability claims, the press release states.

Swann reportedly claimed that his disability interfered with his ability to walk, climb stairs and use his hands, and that he required a cane to get around. He also claimed he suffered cognitive problems that limited his ability to carry on a conversation, according to the press release.

However, between 2006 and 2014, Swann ran a successful business called Swanny’s Guided Fishing, offering guided fishing trips in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Alaska. He was featured on the cover of Northwest Sportsman Magazine, was sponsored by a number of outdoor equipment brands and was a regular guest on TV fishing shows. In 2012, the same year he claimed he hadn’t worked at all, he earned $92,503 for his business. Investigators also found Swann didn’t pay any state or federal taxes on his income from the business, the press release says.

If Swann’s disability benefits had been approved, he would have collected more than $200,000, according to the press release. But his fraud scheme was reportedly discovered during a 2016 investigation of Swann’s illegal conduct on the Cowlitz River.

In October 2014, Swann led a promotional fishing trip on the river, in which he encouraged clients to catch native Coho salmon protected by the Endangered Species Act and Washington law. Swann clubbed two wild fish and cut off the adipose fins to make it appear they were hatchery fish, which are legal to catch and keep. He pleaded guilty in March 2017 to violating the Endangered Species Act, a federal misdemeanor, and was fined $7,500, according to the press release.