Charles Adams, a 50-year-old Army veteran, pleaded guilty July 25, 2023, to stealing $106,245 in disability benefits by fraudulently claiming various medical conditions. (Joshua Magbanua/U.S. Air Force)

An Army veteran admitted to stealing more than $100,000 in disability benefits after he was caught posting Instagram videos of his 800-pound leg presses, the Justice Department said.

Charles Adams, who bills himself on his website as a certified personal trainer, pleaded guilty Tuesday in federal court to theft of $106,245 in government funds, court records show.

He faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. He also was ordered to pay back the money he stole.

As part of the deal, prosecutors dropped a charge of making false statements while applying for Social Security disability benefits.

Adams, 50, of Berkeley, Mo., told medical examiners that a condition prevented him from bending, squatting or lifting more than 25 pounds above his shoulders. Meanwhile, he was doing strenuous workouts, including one the same day of his disability hearing, court documents said.

Adams’ scheme started in 2017, when he applied for an increase in disability benefits, citing degenerative disc disease and arthritis connected to his military service, court filings stated. He told medical workers he had difficulty getting out of bed and could not stand for extended periods of time.

Meanwhile, he posted videos to his Instagram account showing himself lifting heavy weights in late 2017 and 2018, investigators said. His workouts included deep squats and leg presses.

Federal agents began watching Adams, and in 2021, they saw him walk without difficulty while hefting trash bags prior to a medical exam, where he used a cane to walk at a much slower pace.

A grand jury indicted Adams in 2022, and the Department of Veterans Affairs discontinued his benefits after determining his medical conditions were not as disabling as previously assessed, court documents said.

Sentencing for Adams is scheduled for Oct. 25.