Louisiana Woman Pleads Guilty to $152,000 Deceased Payee Fraud
From the U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Louisiana:
U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite announced that MYRNA SHILOH, 56, of New Orleans, pled guilty yesterday to theft of public money.
According to the court documents, SHILOH lived with Individual “A”. Individual “A” was receiving Social Security Benefits until she died on May 16, 1998. After she passed away, checks continued to be sent from the Social Security Administration to Individual “A’s” address in New Orleans. From February 3, 1999 to March 3, 2015, SHILOH cashed the checks totaling $152,179.
In addition, SHILOH forged the name of Individual “A” on the check, deposited the forged checks into her account, and changed her address after Hurricane Katrina in order to keep getting the checks.
SHILOH faces a possible maximum sentence of ten years in prison and/or a fine of $250,000 and up to three years of supervised release. SHILOH will be ordered to pay restitution to the Social Security Administration. U.S. District Judge Lance M. Africk set sentencing for July 21, 2016.
U.S. Attorney Polite praised the work of the SSA Office of Inspector General in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Carter K. D. Guice, Jr. of the Fraud Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
<p class="rtejustify"> From the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Louisiana: </p>
U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite announced that MYRNA SHILOH, 56, of New Orleans, pled guilty yesterday to theft of public money.
According to the court documents, SHILOH lived with Individual “A”. Individual “A” was receiving Social Security Benefits until she died on May 16, 1998. After she passed away, checks continued to be sent from the Social Security Administration to Individual “A’s” address in New Orleans. From February 3, 1999 to March 3, 2015, SHILOH cashed the checks totaling $152,179.
In addition, SHILOH forged the name of Individual “A” on the check, deposited the forged checks into her account, and changed her address after Hurricane Katrina in order to keep getting the checks.
SHILOH faces a possible maximum sentence of ten years in prison and/or a fine of $250,000 and up to three years of supervised release. SHILOH will be ordered to pay restitution to the Social Security Administration. U.S. District Judge Lance M. Africk set sentencing for July 21, 2016.
U.S. Attorney Polite praised the work of the SSA Office of Inspector General in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Carter K. D. Guice, Jr. of the Fraud Unit is in charge of the prosecution.