San Diego, CA – A former employee of the Social Security Administration has admitted to stealing tens of thousands of dollars in government benefits intended for the elderly and disabled.
Nam-Phong Hung Le, 37, pleaded guilty in federal court to two felony charges: Social Security Fraud and Theft of Public Property.
According to court documents, Le set up bank accounts in the names of two recipients of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) who had left the United States and were ineligible for the benefits. He then took over the accounts and received nearly $30,000 in SSI payments without their knowledge.
Le’s scheme also cost the State of California over $20,000 in medical premium payments made to the SSI recipients after they had left the country.
In addition to the SSI benefits, Le exploited his position with the Social Security Administration to identify individuals owed lump sum cash payments by the agency. He used a fraudulent bank account to steal more than $15,000 in money owed to six other individuals, including one deceased person.
As part of his plea agreement, Le agreed to pay full restitution to the Social Security Administration and the State of California’s Department of Health Care Services. He also agreed to a separate order of criminal forfeiture equal to the amount of money he stole.
Le is scheduled to be sentenced on July 12, 2019.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office praised the work of federal prosecutor Jeffrey D. Hill and investigators with the Social Security Administration – Office of the Inspector General.
“The taxpayer has a right to expect that public servants will perform their duties honorably, and that programs intended to assist our nation’s most vulnerable individuals will not be compromised from within,” said U.S. Attorney Robert Brewer.
Nam-Phong Hung Le, 37, of Chula Vista, CA
Criminal Charges:
Social Security Fraud – Title 42, U.S.C., Section 1383a(a)(3)
Theft of Public Property – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 641
City and State: San Diego, CA
Date: March 15, 2019
Sentence: Scheduled to be sentenced on July 12, 2019
Dollar Amounts:
$29,000 in SSI payments
$20,000 in medical premium payments
$15,000 in money owed to six individuals
Key Facts
- State: California
- Category: Public Corruption|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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