For the most part, seniors in high school prep for prom in the same way: They buy a dress or rent a tux, pool together their money for a limo, and pose awkwardly with their date while their parents take photos.
For Johnny “J.J.” Eden Jr., it was a little different. His mom, Saudia Shuler, a Philadelphia woman known for throwing extravagant parties, threw him a prom party last year for the cool price of $25,000. The party, which was Dubai-themed and even had a camel in attendance, made headlines. Her son’s pre-prom block party featured the animal, along with two luxury cars, six custom-made outfits, and food for everyone.
“It was epic, man. I had my family out here. That’s all I really cared about is my family being out here. My mom did her thing; she was the real MVP,” Eden Jr. said at the time.
Now, Shuler, a 44-year-old restaurant owner who threw the party to honor her only son’s hard work at school and his 3.8 GPA, is being charged with Social Security fraud.
Shuler has been charged with six counts of wire fraud, one count of theft of government funds, and two counts of Social Security fraud, according to CBS Philly.
According to the indictment, Shuler, who says she is a cancer survivor, applied for benefits from the Social Security Administration, stating that she was disabled and unable to work. The benefits were approved, but Shuler allegedly continued to work and to run her restaurant. According to prosecutors, Shuler failed to report the income to Social Security.
Shuler is well-known in her community for giving back. She hires teens as employees for her restaurant to keep them out of trouble and buys clothing for children in need. Last December, the mother also turned her block into the North Pole and gave away hundreds of gifts to children.
Should Shuler be convicted, she could face a maximum sentence of 140 years in jail, and she’ll have to repay the government full restitution of $36,785.67.
