Houston Woman Sentenced to Prison for Benefit Check Scheme
Houston, Texas – In a shocking case of financial deceit, Doris Hayes, 37, of Houston, has been ordered to prison for her role in cashing deceased woman’s benefit checks. According to sources, Hayes pleaded guilty to two counts of making false statements involving a Social Security number on November 13, 2013.
Hayes was sentenced by U.S. District Judge David Hittner to 33 months in federal prison, followed by a three-year-term of supervised release. She was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $177,694. Interestingly, Hayes requested that her federal and state sentences run concurrently, but Judge Hittner denied this request.
It is alleged that Hayes opened bank accounts at International Bank of Commerce and University Federal Credit Union using false Social Security numbers, including that of her brother, to facilitate a check cashing scheme. A previous related indictment charged Sandra Carrier, 58, of Houston, with taking part in the scheme, which involved cashing treasury checks from the Department of Veterans Affairs and Social Security Administration after Carrier’s mother had passed away.
Some of those checks were cashed using the same bank accounts Hayes had opened with false Social Security numbers. Carrier and Hayes continued to negotiate the checks up to eight years after Carrier’s mother’s death. The United States suffered $177,642 in damages as a result of the scheme.
Carrier pleaded guilty to related charges and received a sentence of 12 months and one day in prison. Hayes will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility upon completion of her state sentence.
This case is the result of a joint investigation involving multiple federal agencies, including the Social Security Administration – Office of Inspector General and the Department of Veterans Affairs. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Leuchtmann is prosecuting this case.
Hayes, who is currently serving time in state prison for forgery and possession of a controlled substance, admitted to using her brother’s Social Security number to open bank accounts and cash deceased woman’s benefit checks.
Defendant: Doris Hayes
Criminal Charges: Making false statements involving a Social Security number (2 counts)
City and State: Houston, Texas
Exact Date: November 13, 2013
Sentence: 33 months in federal prison, followed by a three-year-term of supervised release, and restitution in the amount of $177,694
Dollar Amount: $177,694
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Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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