Former Social Security Administration Worker Charged in Disability Funds Theft Scheme

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

BALTIMORE– The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland announced today that a federal grand jury indicted a former Social Security Administration (SSA) employee in connection with a social security disability theft scheme.

Najee Alexander Corbett, 37, of Baltimore, is charged with wire fraud, mail fraud, aggravated identity theft, theft of government property, and false statements. Through his position, the former SSA customer service representative could access sensitive SSA databases containing benefit claimants’ personally identifiable information.

Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the indictment with Michael McGill, Special Agent in Charge, Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General (SSA-OIG) – Philadelphia Field Division.

According to the indictment, beginning in February 2023, and continuing through April 2023, Corbett willfully devised a scheme to defraud the SSA. Through the scheme, Corbett fraudulently obtained Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, designated for other individuals, for his and his associates’ personal use.

As part of the scheme, Corbett targeted SSI claimants diagnosed with mental health disorders. Corbett then altered claimant records in the database to include bank accounts he controlled and his residential mailing address to receive their SSI benefit funds.

Additionally, in furthering the scheme, Corbett changed the date of benefit eligibility payments for the selected claimants in SSA’s database which generated back payments in the claimants’ names. Corbett then caused claimants’ SSI benefit payments to be transmitted to bank accounts he controlled and mailed to his home.

Through the scheme, Corbett received $116,537.62 in SSI disability payments and retained $71,304.62.

An indictment is not a finding of guilt. Individuals charged by indictment are presumed innocent until proven guilty at a later criminal proceeding.

If convicted, Corbett faces up to 20 years for wire fraud; up to 20 years for mail fraud; up to 10 years for theft of government property; up to five years for false statements; and a mandatory two years — which runs consecutive to any other sentence — for aggravated identity theft.Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the SSA-OIG for its work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kertisha Dixon who is prosecuting the federal case.

For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud.