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Former SSA Employee Sentenced to 9 Months in Prison for Wire Fraud

August 11, 2016

From the U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Miguel Gutierrez, 42, of Bernville, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today to nine months in prison, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $7,122.86 and a fine of $4,000, pursuant to his prior guilty plea to three counts of wire fraud, announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger.

The defendant, a former Claims Representative in Social Security Administration’s Reading field office, used his access to Social Security’s computer systems at his job to redirect Social Security benefits payable to others, to a bank account in his own name. Defendant Gutierrez redirected several benefit payments before Social Security’s internal control systems detected his theft. The Honorable Jeffrey Schmehl ordered the defendant to repay the Social Security Administration for all stolen funds, and pay a $4,000 fine in addition to that restitution. In imposing the prison sentence, the court noted that the defendant’s former position as a government employee, entrusted with access to Social Security’s computer system, required a term of imprisonment.

The case was investigated by the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, and is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Amanda R. Reinitz.

From the U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Miguel Gutierrez, 42, of Bernville, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today to nine months in prison, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $7,122.86 and a fine of $4,000, pursuant to his prior guilty plea to three counts of wire fraud, announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger.

The defendant, a former Claims Representative in Social Security Administration’s Reading field office, used his access to Social Security’s computer systems at his job to redirect Social Security benefits payable to others, to a bank account in his own name. Defendant Gutierrez redirected several benefit payments before Social Security’s internal control systems detected his theft. The Honorable Jeffrey Schmehl ordered the defendant to repay the Social Security Administration for all stolen funds, and pay a $4,000 fine in addition to that restitution. In imposing the prison sentence, the court noted that the defendant’s former position as a government employee, entrusted with access to Social Security’s computer system, required a term of imprisonment.

The case was investigated by the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, and is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Amanda R. Reinitz.

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