A 25-year-long scam has finally caught up with Janis Miller, 77, of South Orange, New Jersey, as she was indicted on one count of wire fraud for stealing over $1 million in federal benefits meant for her deceased aunt.
According to documents filed in this case, Miller’s aunt died in 1998. Unbeknownst to the SSA and OPM, they continued to pay $1.01 million in retirement and survivor benefits to Miller’s deceased aunt’s bank account. Miller then used debit cards, cash withdrawals, and forged checks to launder the money through a company she controlled.
The scheme continued for over two decades, with Miller even impersonating her deceased aunt over the phone in 2022 to convince SSA employees to continue sending her the benefits.
It wasn’t until 2023, 25 years after the scam began, that OPM and SSA discovered the fraud and discontinued the benefits. The count of wire fraud is punishable by a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 or twice the pecuniary gain or loss.
U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger credited special agents from the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, and the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Office of the Inspector General, with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sam Thypin-Bermeo is representing the government in this case.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and Miller is presumed innocent until proven guilty. The government is seeking to bring this 25-year-long scam to justice and recover the stolen funds.
The investigation and indictment highlight the importance of vigilance in preventing and detecting fraud, particularly in situations where individuals take advantage of vulnerable populations, such as the deceased and their families.
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- Philip James Layfield Indicted in $2M Client Heist · New Jersey
- Connecticut Man Admits to $54K Retail Heist · New Hampshire
- Banker Stole $105,000 from Deceased Customer · New Jersey
Key Facts
- State: New Jersey
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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