Mary Francis Taylor, 54, Lands in Prison for $10,000 Social Security Fraud Scheme
Mary Francis Taylor, a former teleservice technician for the Social Security Administration’s Mid-America Program Service Center in Kansas City, Mo., has been sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison without parole for her role in a nearly $10,000 fraud scheme to steal from the government.
According to court documents, Taylor used her access to sensitive private information for all individuals who possess a Social Security number to her advantage. In August 2013, she found a NetSpend debit card on a public bus and, after falsely claiming to be the cardholder, added another beneficiary to the debit card, allowing the SSA to direct deposit $9,853 into the bank account linked to the stolen card.
Taylor, who resigned from her position on Jan. 10, 2014, used the debit card to pay off her account at Aaron’s and to pay arrearages on her home mortgage, utilities, and car loan. The SSA computer system was illegally accessed by Taylor to create an overage to Victim 2’s record, which was then direct deposited into the bank account linked to the debit card.
The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney William A. Alford III and investigated by the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations. Taylor pleaded guilty to the theft of government money on Sept. 16, 2014, and was ordered to pay $9,853 in restitution.
This brazen scheme has left many questioning how one person was able to abuse their position and exploit the system for personal gain. The sentence handed down to Taylor serves as a reminder that those who abuse their power and commit such crimes will be held accountable.
The people have a right to know that their government is working to protect their personal information and prevent such schemes from happening in the future. We will continue to hold those accountable who seek to exploit the system for their own gain.
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Key Facts
- State: Missouri
- Category: White Collar Crime|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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