Statement
from Social Security Administration Commissioner Barnhart
Who among us will ever forget what we were doing on September 11th of last year
when the devastating news of the terrorists' attacks against our people reached
us? Had I left my home just a few minutes later, the plane that slammed into
the Pentagon would have flown right over the roof of the cab that was taking
me to Capitol Hill for my first scheduled "pre-confirmation" meeting
with the Senate Finance Committee staff.
The events of that day understandably delayed my confirmation hearing and final
arrival at SSA. Consequently, I was unable to witness first hand the remarkable
job that this agency did in responding to the tragedies of September 11th.
After reading the special edition of OASIS dedicated to the agency's response
to the events of that day, it occurred to me there was a major omission: there
was no mention of the outstanding response of our Inspector General and his staff
during that time of grave national emergency. In fact, the collaboration among
all the working components of SSA in the wake of 9/11 is an outstanding example
of SSA teamwork at its best.
Following September 11th, our Inspector General provided direct support to the
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and local law enforcement agencies. The
OIG participated in various Department of Justice Joint Terrorism Task Forces
throughout the country. OIG attorneys, auditors and investigators provided documentation,
testimonial support and investigative information relative to investigations
into the misuse of Social Security numbers -- an area of urgent concern among
a variety of Homeland Security issues. Our OIG coordinated all requests for the
release of wage and data information to the FBI for its use in investigating
the terrorists; and the OIG continues to participate with all law enforcement
agencies in the ongoing national investigations against terrorism.
I am very proud of OIG and the tremendous contributions the office continues
to make to Homeland Security. I know that the rest of our agency joins me in
offering grateful thanks to all of the employees at OIG for your good work.
Jo Anne Barnhart
Commissioner
Update
on Operation "Vulture Sweep"
23 Individuals Are Charged and 18 Arrested for Fraudulent World Trade Center
Claims Totaling $760,465
As a result of the ongoing World Trade Center Fraud Task Force investigation,
which has been titled "Vulture Sweep," 23 people have been charged
with falsely filing for death certificates claiming that members of their family
died in the attacks on the Work Trade Center on September 11th. Of those charged,
15 of the individuals actually received funds totaling $760,465 from the American
Red Cross, Safe Horizon, and SSA. Specifically, four claims involved Social Security
Survivors benefits totaling approximately $20,000.To date, 18 individuals have
been arrested and additional arrests are anticipated in the near future. The
Manhattan District Attorney stated that the multi-agency investigation "showed
that con artists from New York and around the nation took advantage of the country's
generosity after the attacks on the World Trade Center. This outrageous conduct
will be met with the full force of the law."
Update
on Operation "Vulture Sweep"
23 Individuals Are Charged and 18 Arrested for Fraudulent World Trade Center
Claims Totaling $760,465
As a result of the ongoing World Trade Center Fraud Task Force investigation,
which has been titled "Vulture Sweep," 23 people have been charged
with falsely filing for death certificates claiming that members of their family
died in the attacks on the Work Trade Center on September 11th. Of those charged,
15 of the individuals actually received funds totaling $760,465 from the American
Red Cross, Safe Horizon, and SSA. Specifically, four claims involved Social Security
Survivors benefits totaling approximately $20,000.To date, 18 individuals have
been arrested and additional arrests are anticipated in the near future. The
Manhattan District Attorney stated that the multi-agency investigation "showed
that con artists from New York and around the nation took advantage of the country's
generosity after the attacks on the World Trade Center. This outrageous conduct
will be met with the full force of the law."
Highlighted
OI Cases
Threatening a Social Security Employee Results in Arrest An SSI recipient residing in Wyoming was arrested by SSA-OIG agents
pursuant to a criminal complaint charging him with three counts of
violating 18 U.S.C. 111-- threatening or assaulting federal employees
while engaged in their duties. The subject threatened to kill a Social
Security claims representative and three Indian Health Service (IHS)
employees if he was not made payee for his own SSI check. The individual
also threatened to burn down the houses of the IHS workers and "get
someone up here to kill some people." The subject was brought
before the U.S. magistrate in Lander, Wyoming for an initial appearance,
at which time he agreed to be held for a psychiatric evaluation upon
motion by the United States Attorney. Man Receives Death Sentence in Michigan Murder A Michigan man, previously convicted of SSN fraud in March 1998, was convicted
of murdering a woman on National Forest property in June 1997. On March 16, 2002,
the jury returned the death sentence. He had been accused by the woman of rape,
and killed her 3 days before her scheduled testimony on that charge. Three adults
and the victim's infant daughter remain missing. In an attempt to elude authorities
in the murder investigation, he assumed the identity of a SSI recipient, whose
benefits he purloined. Through use of a fake job application, he also posed as
a contractor to acquire other identification particulars. He then used the information
to acquire a birth certificate and to apply for a replacement SSN card in the
stolen identity.
The OIG case agent involved in this investigation testified during both the murder
trial and penalty phase regarding the Social Security and SSI programs. The man
was previously sentenced in 1998 to repay SSA $13,945 which he unlawfully received
in SSI payments under the other identity. Woman Sentenced to Incarceration Repays SSA $160,770 A Georgia woman was sentenced to 12 months and one day imprisonment,
3 years supervised release, and fined $8,000. Prior to sentencing,
the woman submitted a certified check in the amount of $160,770 to
repay SSA. The sentence was the result of the woman pleading guilty
to an Indictment charging her with 18 USC 1343 (Wire Fraud), 42 USC
408 (a)(4)-Concealment of an event affecting receipt of SSA benefits,
and 42 USC 408(a)(7)(a)-SSN Fraud. An investigation conducted by
the Atlanta Field Office established that the woman's husband who
was receiving Retirement Survivors Insurance Benefits died in March
1975 and his wife continued receiving benefits paid to him causing
a fraud loss of $160,770. An SSA Office in Atlanta, GA, referred
this case to OI.
Man Sentenced to 8 1/2 Years Incarceration for Identity Fraud This investigation determined that a man assumed another individual's
identity for over 12 years. He received title II and title XVI benefits
under the assumed identity. He also married twice, worked, amassed
large debts, committed crimes, and was a fugitive under the assumed
identity. As a result of an outstanding arrest warrant for the man
under the assumed identity, the actual victim of the assumed identity
was arrested and spent a week in jail.
The man was arrested and pled guilty to an indictment charging him with an Organized
Scheme to Defraud, Fraudulent Use of Personal Identification Information, and
Drivers License Fraud. He was sentenced to 8 1/2 years incarceration, restitution
of $22,824 to SSA, restitution of $3,581 to the Florida Department of Children
and Families, restitution to the Identity Theft victim of $25,000, and restitution
of $3,500 to the Office of Statewide Prosecution for the cost of prosecution.
This case was referred to SSA/OIG by the Hernando County Sheriff's Office. The
Port Richey, Florida SSA Office provided invaluable assistance during this investigation.
Hotline
Statistics From March 25 - 29, 2002, the Hotline reported the following:
Allegation numbers issued - 2, 491
Total allegations received this fiscal year - 56,151
Our website provides guidelines for reporting fraud and a way to submit an allegation
to our Fraud Hotline. For more information, visit www.socialsecurity.gov/oig.
Eye on OIG is published
on a biweekly basis Valerie Wood, Editor
For past issues of an Eye on OIG, please visit the Media
Room.
www.socialsecurity.gov
