Troy Woman Pleads Guilty to Yearslong Fraud to Obtain Benefits

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

BANGOR, Maine: A Troy woman pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Bangor to Social Security fraud, health care fraud, and theft of public money.

According to court records, from about October 2013 to February 2020, Christie Mitchell, 49, lied to the Social Security Administration (SSA) about her husband’s presence in her household and his income to fraudulently appear eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments. Mitchell also concealed her husband’s presence and income from the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (ME/DHHS) from about October 2013 to December 2019 during which time she received MaineCare benefits and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.

In multiple benefit eligibility reviews, Mitchell falsely represented to the SSA and ME/DHHS that she and her husband lived separately. She failed to disclose her husband’s presence and income despite knowing that she was required to and that it would affect her eligibility to receive benefits.

Mitchell faces up to five years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 followed by up to three years of supervised release on each of the Social Security fraud and health card fraud charges. She faces up to 10 years and a maximum fine of $250,000 followed by up to three years of supervised release on the theft of public money charge. The Court may also order Mitchell to pay

restitution to SSA for the Social Security fraud charge and must order her to pay restitution to ME/DHHS for the health care fraud and theft of public money charges.

SSA’s Office of the Inspector General and ME/DHHS’s Fraud Investigation and Recovery Unit investigated the case.