From the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Office of Public Affairs Scammers Phoned American Seniors, Impersonated Attorneys to Steal Cash Two residents of Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic, were extradited to the United States last week and made their initial appearance in Newark federal court yesterday on charges relating to their participation in a sprawling “grandparent…

From the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of New Jersey CAMDEN, N.J. – A North Carolina woman admitted conspiring to submit fraudulent applications leading to the issuance of 29 Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans totaling more than $3.5 million, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today. Lisa Smith, 61, of Cornelius, North Carolina, pleaded guilty before…

Tampa, Florida – The Foreign Medical Program (FMP), an initiative by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, provides a lifeline for veterans with service-connected disabilities living or traveling abroad. Tampa-based veteran’s disability law firm David W. Magann, P.A., known for its commitment to serving veterans, highlights the importance of this new benefit and its role…

From the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Alaska ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A Canadian man was arrested in Los Angeles on July 8 after a federal grand jury in Alaska returned an indictment charging him with stealing over $420,000 of his mother’s Social Security benefits in a nearly 30-year complex fraud scheme. According to court documents,…

From the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Georgia ATLANTA – Teresa Carter and Sharon Crowder have been sentenced for theft of government funds for their unlawful receipt of Social Security benefits intended for relatives, who died years earlier. “Carter and Crowder chose to assume the responsibility of acting on behalf of loved ones as…

From the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Middle District of Florida Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that April L. Brockman (42, Deltona) has pleaded guilty to theft of government property. Brockman faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. Brockman must also pay restitution to the Social Security Administration and…

From the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Utah Salt Lake City, Utah – Melvin Roy Hunter, 71, of Salt Lake County, was ordered  by the court to 14 months’ home detention as part of a 40 months’ probation sentence, and ordered to pay $105,301.30 in restitution.  The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge…

From the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Iowa An illegal alien and two other individuals who conspired to obtain over $500,000 in federally funded health care benefits, including a kidney transplant, were sentenced to prison on June 24, 2024, and July 2, 2024.   Jeremias Otoniel Herrera Rosales (“Herrera Rosales”), age 37, from Worthington,…

From the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Middle District of Florida Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Erlin Maradiaga-Flores (31, Honduras) today pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft.  Maradiaga-Flores faces a penalty of two years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. According to the plea agreement, E-Verify…

Dear Chairmen Wyden and Smith, Ranking Members Crapo and Neal: Today marks my final day as I retire as Inspector General of the Social Security Administration (SSA). I want to thank President Donald J. Trump for nominating me for this position and the U.S. Senate for confirming me. Since I was sworn in on January…