Linda Expose, 54, of Salida, California, is behind bars after being indicted on federal charges for defrauding the Social Security Administration out of $190,000. The hard-fought takedown, announced today by U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott, marks the end of a years-long scheme built on lies, stolen identities, and systemic exploitation of federal benefits programs.
Court documents reveal Expose began collecting Social Security benefits in 1980—then kept collecting while working for 19 years at a children’s hospital under a relative’s Social Security number. While she pulled a paycheck under that stolen identity, she told federal officials she’d never used any number but her own. The deception was deliberate, repeated, and financially devastating to the system designed to help those truly in need.
Expose didn’t stop at concealment. She allegedly filed multiple applications for benefits under both Social Security numbers, attempting to double-dip into the program. Her fraud went undetected for years, but investigators with the Social Security Administration’s Office of Inspector General eventually uncovered the trail of false statements, forged records, and illicit payments.
The indictment charges Expose with one count of mail fraud and two counts of fraud on the Social Security Administration. Each charge carries serious weight: up to 20 years in prison for mail fraud, and five years for each Social Security fraud count. She also faces a potential $250,000 fine. If the court convicts, her age won’t shield her from accountability.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher D. Baker is leading the prosecution, building a case rooted in paper trails, employment records, and admissions allegedly made under scrutiny. The investigation peeled back layers of deception, exposing how Expose manipulated one of America’s most vulnerable social safety nets for personal gain.
The charges are not convictions. Linda Expose is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Sentencing, if she is found guilty, will be determined by the court, weighing statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. But the message is clear: stealing from Social Security is a federal crime—and the feds are watching.
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Key Facts
- State: California
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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