New York Woman Indicted for Social Security Number Fraud Scheme
From the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of New York:
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Kristin M. Vargas, age 33, of Clifton Park, New York, was arraigned today on a 9-count indictment charging her with using and selling stolen Social Security numbers.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Richard S. Hartunian; Patricia Tarasca, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) Office of Inspector General, New York Region; and John F. Grasso, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration (SSA) Office of the Inspector General, New York Field Office.
The indictment charges Vargas with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, making false statements in loan and credit applications, and misusing social security numbers. The indictment alleges that in 2013 and 2014, Vargas obtained and sold stolen Social Security numbers (SSNs) over the internet. Vargas advertised these stolen SSNs as “credit profile numbers” and encouraged her customers to use these SSNs in place of their own on credit and loan applications as a means to escape negative credit histories. The indictment further alleges that Vargas used stolen SSNs herself on applications for credit.
The charges in the indictment are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Vargas faces up to 20 years in prison, up to 3 years of post-imprisonment supervised release and a maximum $250,000 fine if convicted on all counts of the indictment. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.
Vargas was arraigned today before United States Magistrate Judge Christian F. Hummel. She was released with conditions pending a trial before Senior United States District Judge Thomas J. McAvoy.
This case is being investigated by the Offices of Inspector General of the FDIC and SSA, and is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason W. White.
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Kristin M. Vargas, age 33, of Clifton Park, New York, was arraigned today on a 9-count indictment charging her with using and selling stolen Social Security numbers.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Richard S. Hartunian; Patricia Tarasca, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) Office of Inspector General, New York Region; and John F. Grasso, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration (SSA) Office of the Inspector General, New York Field Office.
The indictment charges Vargas with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, making false statements in loan and credit applications, and misusing social security numbers. The indictment alleges that in 2013 and 2014, Vargas obtained and sold stolen Social Security numbers (SSNs) over the internet. Vargas advertised these stolen SSNs as “credit profile numbers” and encouraged her customers to use these SSNs in place of their own on credit and loan applications as a means to escape negative credit histories. The indictment further alleges that Vargas used stolen SSNs herself on applications for credit.
The charges in the indictment are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Vargas faces up to 20 years in prison, up to 3 years of post-imprisonment supervised release and a maximum $250,000 fine if convicted on all counts of the indictment. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.
Vargas was arraigned today before United States Magistrate Judge Christian F. Hummel. She was released with conditions pending a trial before Senior United States District Judge Thomas J. McAvoy.
This case is being investigated by the Offices of Inspector General of the FDIC and SSA, and is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason W. White.