Rosemary Ogbenna, 45, of Washington, D.C., has been indicted on 35 counts tied to a decade-long scheme to steal more than $400,000 in government benefits intended for elderly, disabled, and veteran tenants of her rooming house. Federal prosecutors unsealed the indictment yesterday after her arrest, charging her with one of the most brazen thefts of public aid funds in recent D.C. history.
Ogbenna allegedly exploited her role as a Representative Payee for Social Security Administration (SSA) benefits, legally entrusted to manage funds for vulnerable individuals, then funneled the money into her own pockets. From at least March 19, 2009, through February 23, 2020, she siphoned SSA and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefit payments meant for food, housing, and medical care — using them instead for personal gain.
The indictment details how Ogbenna not only manipulated SSA funds but also seized control of VA disability and survivor benefits paid to tenants, all without authorization. She allegedly forged documents, submitted falsified records, and lied to federal investigators attempting to uncover the fraud. When confronted, she provided altered financial records in a clear effort to obstruct the probe.
Charges against Ogbenna include 12 counts of mail fraud, 16 of wire fraud, one count of theft of government property, two counts of aggravated identity theft, one count of Representative Payee fraud, one count of making a false statement, one count of tampering with documents, and one count of first-degree theft. Each mail and wire fraud count carries a maximum 20-year prison sentence.
If convicted, Ogbenna could face ten years for theft of government property or first-degree theft, two years for each aggravated identity theft count — to be served consecutively — and five years for Representative Payee fraud. The indictment also includes a forfeiture notice, demanding the government recover every dollar stolen through the scheme.
The case was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, SSA Inspector General Gail S. Ennis, VA OIG Special Agent in Charge Kim Lampkins, and Special Inspector General Christy Goldsmith Romero. Ogbenna was released after her initial appearance and is scheduled for arraignment on November 30, 2021, in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
RELATED: Rosemary Ogbenna Indicted in $400K Gov’t Benefit Heist
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Key Facts
- State: Washington DC
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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