"Theft of Social Security benefits is a serious crime that deprives vulnerable individuals of the assistance they need," said Benjamin G. Greenberg, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida. Myriam Etienne, 49, of Pompano Beach, Florida, was convicted of 90 counts of theft of government funds by a federal jury after a three-day trial.
According to evidence presented at trial, Etienne received Social Security Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for her grandparents since 2004. The SSI funds were direct deposited into a joint bank account she shared with her deceased grandparents. Etienne’s grandfather died in Haiti in 2006, and her grandmother died in Haiti in 2009. However, she continued to receive their SSI benefits and did not report their deaths to the Social Security Administration.
The evidence showed that Etienne signed representative payee accounting records, years after their deaths, verifying that the SSI money was being utilized for her grandparents’ food, shelter, clothing, and medical treatment. After her grandmother’s and grandfather’s deaths, Etienne received approximately $130,000 in SSI payments. She used the funds to make several mortgage payments and additional payments on her BMW X6 vehicle.
Etienne faces up to 10 years imprisonment on each count, a $250,000 fine as to each count, and restitution. Her sentencing hearing is scheduled for April 5, 2018, at 9:30 a.m. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Randy Katz.
Greenberg commended the investigative efforts of the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, the U.S. Department of State, and the FBI’s Legal Attaché in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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