CLEVELAND, Ohio - A Windham man will spend more than two years in federal prison after admitting he lied about his physical health to collect over $500,000 in government benefits.

U.S. District Judge David A. Ruiz sentenced Michael W. Honaker, 55, to 31 months in prison on Dec. 12. Honaker previously pleaded guilty to wire fraud and theft of government property.

According to court documents, Honaker lived at a home on Greenmeadow Road in Windham while claiming he was too injured to work or walk properly. Prosecutors said Honaker began receiving workers’ compensation in 1998 and Social Security disability payments in 1999. In 2012, he also began receiving help with his rent through a federal housing program.

To keep the money coming, Honaker told officials that simple tasks like climbing stairs caused him extreme pain. During medical exams, he pretended he could not walk without dragging his leg or using a wheelchair. He even told an investigator he had a brain injury and used crutches all day.

Honaker later admitted those statements were lies. Investigators found he was not as physically limited as he claimed.

“Mr. Honaker’s deception was truly shameless,” said U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer. “He had no problem going to great lengths to hide his deceitful behavior and reap the benefits from programs that are meant for people who truly need them.”

As part of the sentence, Honaker must pay back the money he took from three different agencies:

  • $432,254 to the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation
  • $82,400 to the Social Security Administration
  • $22,417 to the Portage Metropolitan Housing Authority

A second person from Windham was also involved. Nichole Johnson, 42, was sentenced to two years of probation for lying to the Social Security Administration about Honaker’s health.

After Honaker finishes his prison term, he will be required to serve three years of supervised release.