Four Arrested following Social Security Disability Fraud Investigation in Kentucky

Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway, the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the Cabinet for Health and Family Services jointly announce the arrest of four people following an investigation by the new Cooperative Disability Investigations (CDI) unit. CDI was created in September of 2011 to combat and detect fraud in federal disability benefit programs.

On April 13, 2012 investigators from the Attorney General’s office and SSA’s Office of Inspector General arrested 44-year-old Barbara Sands and her two daughters, 24-year-old Amy Partain and 21-year-old Melinda Partain, all of London, Ky., on one count each of possession of a forged instrument, identity theft and theft of a U.S. Treasury check over $500. A fourth person, 47-year-old Versie Partain, was arrested for the same violations after being implicated by his co-conspirators. 

The defendants were arrested following the execution of a search warrant on April 12 at their Laurel County residence. All four entered not guilty pleas at their arraignment in Laurel District Court earlier this week. 

The charges are the result of an investigation that began on January 12, 2012 based on information provided by the Corbin, Ky. SSA office. SSA reported suspected fraud during a continuing disability review of Barbara Sands. During the course of the investigation, Eric Partain, son of Sands and Versie Partain, died on March 29, 2012. On March 30, 2012, Sands, Amy Partain and Melinda Partain allegedly forged and cashed a Supplemental Security Income check issued to Eric Partain, which he was not entitled to receive after his death.

 Prosecution of this case is being handled by the office of Jackie Steele, Commonwealth’s Attorney for the 27^th Judicial Circuit representing Laurel and Knox counties.