OIG Rises
to the (CFC) Occasion!
OIG's Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) effort for 2001 is in full
swing. Led by OCIG's Amy Thompson, CFC Coordinator, OIG Keypersons
are actively seeking CFC donations and September 11th Fund contributions
from their cohorts. SSA CFC personnel have praised OIG's efforts
and are particularly impressed with the number of raffle tickets
we have purchased thus far.
This year's CFC goal for OIG Headquarters is $12,900 and is a goal
we will certainly exceed! During last year's CFC, OIG Headquarters
raised $23,867 --approximately double our goal. It is important to
note that contributions to the September 11th Fund also count toward
our CFC goal for 2001. A contribution of $525, on behalf of the OIG
at headquarters, was made to the September 11th Fund -- and over
$200 of this was raised by donations from OI's Allegations Management
Division.
Marco Toda, CFC Keyperson for OEO, is very happy with the contributions
he has received from his co-workers. He maintains: "The terrorist
attacks in New York City and Washington provide additional motivation
to contribute to the CFC this year. This is our chance to band together
as Americans and help our countrymen in time of need."
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IG
Slated to Testify at House Subcommittee Hearing on October 18
The House Committee on Ways and Means, Subcommittee on Social Security,
has scheduled a public hearing on SSA's response to the terrorist
attacks of September 11. SSA Inspector General James G. Huse, Jr.,
has been invited to appear by Congressman Clay Shaw, Chairman of
the Subcommittee, to discuss this topic.
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Highlighted
OI Cases
Former Roommate of Deceased Beneficiary Prosecuted for Theft
of Both SSA and Veteran's Benefits
A referral from the Beaumont, TX SSA office resulted in this
investigation by the SSA OIG Houston Office. In 1995, a beneficiary
death was reported using the middle name, and the roommate of
the deceased claimed to be unaware of the SSN. The roommate then
forged and negotiated checks issued to the deceased beneficiary
by the SSA (retirement benefits) and Veterans Administration
(VA). She was charged in the Eastern District of Texas in a 98-count
indictment with violations of Title 18, United States Code, Section
510(a)(2), Forgery of U.S. Treasury Checks and Title 18 United
States Code, Section 641, Theft of Public Money. As a result
of a guilty plea, she was sentenced to 4 months' imprisonment,
4 months' home confinement, 3 years' supervised release, and
ordered to make restitution, totaling $69,482.00 ($35,654.00
to SSA and $33,828.00 to the VA).
Family Members Collect Benefits After Child Molester Fakes Death
An U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sergeant staged his own death in February
1994 in order to avoid being prosecuted for child molestation by
the Marine Corps. His family members helped him plan and effectuate
the staged death. The conspiracy involved murdering an unknown person,
staging the funeral, and subsequently applying for various benefits.
The supposedly deceased Marine Corps Staff Sergeant was later discovered
to be very much alive when he was arrested by police in Hurricane,
Utah for molesting his own daughters. This child molester and murderer
committed suicide in July 1999, while in prison.
The man's two brothers, who aided in the conspiracy, were sentenced
to serve 37 months each in a federal prison and 36 months probation
following their prison terms. The two men, who currently reside in
Las Vegas, Nevada, were also ordered to pay $201,568 in restitution
to the Prudential Life Insurance Company for repayment of Servicemen's
Group Life Insurance benefits. The ex-wife of the now truly deceased
child molester pled guilty to misprision of a felony and was sentenced
to 36 months probation and ordered to pay restitution of $72,525
to SSA (survivor benefits) and $29,349 to the VA. In addition, the
mother of the three men was also convicted of conspiracy and will
be sentenced on October 19, 2001. The conspiracy case was initiated
in November 1997 after the discovery of the staged death. The case
required substantial efforts on the part of OIG agents and resources
of SSA, VA, and Defense Criminal Investigative Services.
Second SSN Allows Disability Beneficiary to Conceal Work
A Tacoma, Washington man was sentenced to 5 years supervised probation,
ordered to pay restitution, and pay a special assessment of $100
after pleading guilty to theft of public money. The man collected
Social Security Disability Insurance benefits under one social security
number (SSN) while employed in various jobs under another SSN. He
obtained his second SSN prior to applying for Title II disability
benefits in June 1996. The man concealed his work from November 1996
through May 2001, during which time he provided numerous false statements
to SSA in order to continue receiving Social Security benefits. The
loss to Social Security was $60,935.10.
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