ROANOKE (WSLS 10) - The former owner of popular downtown Roanoke eatery, Thelma's Chicken and Waffles, was sentenced Monday to 14 months in prison for stealing disability benefits from the Railroad Retirement Board.
Christopher Mayo, 46 of Roanoke, pleaded guilty to one count of stealing government monies. Mayo admitted he falsely applied for and received monthly
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disability annuity payments from the Railroad Retirement Board [RRB] beginning in 2007. Mayo received a total of $228,556 in disability payments for which he was not entitled.
In addition to the sentence of 14 months of federal incarceration, he was ordered to pay restitution to the RRB in the amount of $228,556.
An investigation into Mayo began in late 2014 after the RRB received a complaint from Norfolk Southern. The investigation revealed, after applying for disability benefits in 2007, Mayo worked to knowingly hide his employment and ownership of Thelma's Chicken and Waffles from the RRB. When questioned by investigators in early 2015, he said he was an investor in the restaurant, was waiting for a big pay day from it and did not make any money from his role with the business.
He eventually admitted to investigators he knowingly hid his income in order to continue to receive disability benefits.