Covington Woman Pleads Guilty to Theft of Social Security Funds

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

NEW ORLEANS – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that HAYDEE ARMAS SANTANA (“SANTANA”), age 58, of Covington, Louisiana, pled guilty on February 17, 2022 to Theft of Government Funds, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 641.

According to documents filed in federal court, beginning in 2015, SANTANA filed for, and became eligible for, Social Security Supplemental Security Income (“SSI”) disability payments. SANTANA’s SSI application concealed an Iberia Bank account and her ownership in at least two additional pieces of real property, including one located in Miramar Beach, FL. In total, SANTANA fraudulently obtained over $31,000.00 in SSA SSI disability benefits.

SANTANA faces a maximum penalty of ten (10) years imprisonment, followed by up to three (3) years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000.00, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.

Sentencing in this matter is scheduled for May 12, 2022, before United States District Judge Barry W. Ashe.

U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General and the Louisiana State Police. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U. S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba, Chief of the Financial Crimes Unit.