Troy Woman’s $1M Social Security Scam Unraveled

A 49-year-old Troy woman has been caught in a yearslong scheme to scam millions in Social Security benefits, health care fraud, and theft of public money.

Christie Mitchell, 49, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Bangor to Social Security fraud, health care fraud, and theft of public money.

According to court records, from about October 2013 to February 2020, Mitchell lied to the Social Security Administration (SSA) about her husband’s presence in her household and his income to fraudulently appear eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments. Mitchell also concealed her husband’s presence and income from the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (ME/DHHS) from about October 2013 to December 2019 during which time she received MaineCare benefits and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.

In multiple benefit eligibility reviews, Mitchell falsely represented to the SSA and ME/DHHS that she and her husband lived separately. She failed to disclose her husband’s presence and income despite knowing that she was required to and that it would affect her eligibility to receive benefits.

Mitchell faces up to five years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 followed by up to three years of supervised release on each of the Social Security fraud and health card fraud charges. She faces up to 10 years and a maximum fine of $250,000 followed by up to three years of supervised release on the theft of public money charge.

The SSA’s Office of the Inspector General and ME/DHHS’s Fraud Investigation and Recovery Unit investigated the case. The Court may also order Mitchell to pay restitution to SSA for the Social Security fraud charge and must order her to pay restitution to ME/DHHS for the health care fraud and theft of public money charges.

The full extent of Mitchell’s scheme is still unknown, but officials estimate she received over $1 million in benefits during the years of her deception. Her sentencing is set to take place later this year.