New York Woman Sentenced for Passport Fraud, Social Security Theft

From the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Connecticut:

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that SUZANNE DIANNE BENT, 55, a resident of the Bronx, N.Y., was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to three years of probation for passport fraud.

According to court documents and statements made in court, BENT is believed to be a native of Jamaica who was illegally brought to the U.S. by her grandmother in 1969.  BENT has a criminal history that includes multiple convictions for theft-related crimes, and she has used multiple aliases and dates of birth during her life

On April 1, 2013, BENT applied for a U.S. passport at the Stamford, Connecticut Passport Agency.  As proof of citizenship, she provided a fraudulent New York City birth certificate and other documentation.

The investigation further revealed that BENT had fraudulently obtained a Social Security number and, between August 2004 and March 2013, received approximately $76,365 in benefits from the Social Security Administration, Supplemental Security Income Program based on a claimed mental or physical disability.

BENT was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $76,365.35.

BENT was arrested on December 5, 2014.  On July 20, 2015, she pleaded guilty to one count of making a false statement in an application for a U.S. passport.

At the conclusion of the sentencing hearing, BENT was taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

This matter was investigated by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security; the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General – Office of Investigations; and U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Deborah R. Slater.

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that SUZANNE DIANNE BENT, 55, a resident of the Bronx, N.Y., was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to three years of probation for passport fraud.

According to court documents and statements made in court, BENT is believed to be a native of Jamaica who was illegally brought to the U.S. by her grandmother in 1969.  BENT has a criminal history that includes multiple convictions for theft-related crimes, and she has used multiple aliases and dates of birth during her life

On April 1, 2013, BENT applied for a U.S. passport at the Stamford, Connecticut Passport Agency.  As proof of citizenship, she provided a fraudulent New York City birth certificate and other documentation.

The investigation further revealed that BENT had fraudulently obtained a Social Security number and, between August 2004 and March 2013, received approximately $76,365 in benefits from the Social Security Administration, Supplemental Security Income Program based on a claimed mental or physical disability.

BENT was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $76,365.35.

BENT was arrested on December 5, 2014.  On July 20, 2015, she pleaded guilty to one count of making a false statement in an application for a U.S. passport.

At the conclusion of the sentencing hearing, BENT was taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

This matter was investigated by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security; the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General – Office of Investigations; and U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Deborah R. Slater.