Covington Woman Indicted For Theft of Social Security Funds

NEW ORLEANS – United States Attorney Peter G. Strasser announced that HAYDEE ARMAS SANTANA (“SANTANA”), age 56, of Covington, Louisiana, was indicted September 26, 2019 by a federal grand jury for Theft of Government Funds, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 641.

According to the indictment, beginning in 2015, SANTANA filed for, and became eligible for, Social Security Supplemental Security Income (“SSI”) disability payments. According to the indictment, SANTANA submitted a Form SSA-8001, under penalty of perjury, to the SSA in which she denied owning additional real property other than her home and claimed she only had $200.00 in a Citizen Bank & Trust checking account. 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.

U.S. Attorney Strasser reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

If convicted, 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.

U.S. Attorney Strasser 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, Supervisor of the Financial Crimes Unit.