Baton Rouge Resident Convicted Of Stealing Federal Dollars In Fraudulent Social Security Benefits Scheme

BATON ROUGE, LA – Acting United States Attorney Corey R. Amundson announced that LUCILLE WILLIAMS, age 54, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Shelly D. Dick to stealing funds of a Federal agency, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 641. During the guilty plea hearing yesterday, WILLIAMS admitted that as the authorized payee for Social Security Administration (SSA) benefits to her mother, she continued to collect SSA benefits after her mother’s death. As part of her scheme to steal SSA benefits, WILLIAMS submitted reports to the SSA falsely stating that her mother was still alive and that she used the benefit payments for the care and support of her deceased mother. WILLIAMS admitted that, as a result of her fraudulent scheme, she illegally collected almost $80,000.

Acting U.S. Attorney Amundson stated: “Federal benefit fraud continues to be employed by criminals in the United States. When fraudsters steal funds intended for legitimate purposes, their criminal conduct victimizes not only our federal agencies but also all taxpayers. My office works in conjunction with the Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General to aggressively identify and prosecute defendants like this who mistakenly believe that their fraudulent conduct will continue indefinitely and undetected.”

Special Agent-in-Charge Robert G. Feldt stated: “The Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, will tirelessly investigate and bring to justice those who commit fraud against Social Security Programs.”

This ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Dallas Field Division of the Social Security Administration’s Office of Inspector General and the Affirmative Civil Enforcement Unit of the United States Attorney’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Paul L. Pugliese