Chubbuck Woman Pleads Guilty to Social Security Fraud

POCATELLO - Jeanna Jimenez, 45, of Chubbuck, Idaho, pleaded guilty yesterday to social security fraud, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.  Jimenez was indicted by a federal grand jury in Boise on August 11, 2015.

According to the plea agreement, Jimenez was the representative payee for three of her children’s Supplement Security Income benefits.  As such, she agreed to spend the benefits on the beneficiaries, her children, and conserve any unused funds on their behalf.  From in and about November 2013 and continuing through in and about April 2014, the three children were removed from the defendant’s care and remained in the custody of the State of Idaho.  During that time, Jimenez received a total of $12,912 in benefits that she spent.

Social security fraud in violation of 42 U.S.C. § 1307(a) is punishable by up to one year in jail, a maximum fine of $100,000, up to one year of supervised release, and up to five years of probation.

Sentencing is set for October 12, 2016, before Senior U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge at the federal courthouse in Pocatello.

The case was investigated by the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General with help from the Chubbuck Police Department.  The case was prosecuted by a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney as part of a partnership venture between the Social Security Administration Office of General Counsel and the United States Attorney’s Office to prosecute social security fraud.