Austin Woman Pleads Guilty in 25-Year Social Security Fraud Scam

U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS – Mavious Redmond of Austin, Minnesota, has pleaded guilty to theft of government funds after a 25-year social security fraud scheme, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick.

According to court documents, Mavious Redmond, 54, devised and carried out a scheme to collect her deceased mother’s social security retirement benefits following her mother’s death in January 1999.  On multiple occasions, Redmond impersonated her deceased mother to keep her fraud scheme going.  For example, on June 4, 2024, Redmond personally visited the SSA office, posing as her deceased mother, and submitted a fraudulent SS-5 Application for Social Security Form using her mother’s name, date of birth, social security number, and forging her deceased mother’s signature.  Redmond visited the SSA office a second time on June 20, 2024, resubmitted her deceased mother’s documentation and the form with the forged signature.

In total, from January 1999 through June 2024, Redmond collected more than $360,000 in social security payments intended for her mother.

“We are awash in federal programs fraud,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick. “Redmond stole well more than a quarter million dollars in taxpayer funds. She scammed social security for literal decades. No more. My office will continue to aggressively pursue the federal programs fraud that plagues Minnesota.”

Redmond pleaded guilty to one count of theft of government funds in U.S. District Court before Judge Nancy E. Brasel on April 9, 2025. A sentencing hearing will take place at a later date.

This case is the result of an investigation by Social Security Administration – Office of Inspector General.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew D. Evans is prosecuting the case.