Leesa Marie Parkhill-Nieland, Social Security fraud, Iowa 2018

A Des Moines, Iowa woman is accused of defrauding the Social Security Administration out of thousands of dollars in benefits.

According to a federal indictment, 47-year-old Leesa Marie Parkhill-Nieland of Altoona received Social Security Disability Insurance Benefits from December 2012 until April 2018, but the indictment alleges that she failed to disclose that she was self-employed through two different businesses, Pine Hollow Stables and Coat of Many Colors.

Parkhill-Nieland is charged with theft of government funds, Social Security fraud, and making a false statement to the Social Security Administration, all federal crimes.

The indictment alleges that Parkhill-Nieland concealed her employment from the Social Security Administration in order to continue receiving payments, and that she failed to disclose her income from her businesses.

Parkhill-Nieland appeared in United States District Court in Des Moines on September 14, 2018, after being charged by a federal grand jury on August 28, 2018.

The investigation into Parkhill-Nieland’s alleged crimes was conducted by the Social Security Administration—Office of Inspector General, with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa prosecuting the case.

Parkhill-Nieland’s case is just the latest example of the widespread problem of Social Security fraud in the United States, which can have serious consequences for taxpayers and the integrity of the Social Security system.

The public is reminded that an indictment is merely an accusation, and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

Related Federal Cases