Nicole Ball, SSN Misuse, Ohio 2021

A Cincinnati woman has been brought to justice for her brazen scheme to misuse another person’s Social Security number, with devastating consequences for those affected.

Nicole Ball, 49, of Cincinnati, was sentenced in federal court to 17 months in prison for misusing another person’s Social Security number. This egregious offense was just the latest in a string of deceitful actions taken by Ball, who has a history of filing for bankruptcy using her true Social Security number, only to have each case dismissed.

According to court documents, from 2013 to 2016, Ball filed for bankruptcy in the Southern District of Ohio using her true Social Security number. Each case was dismissed, and in February 2017, the bankruptcy court ordered the defendant not to file again for at least three years.

But Ball was not one to be deterred. In March 2019, she illegally used another person’s Social Security number to file again for bankruptcy. This move would come back to haunt her, as she later pleaded guilty to misusing the SSN in March 2021.

However, Ball’s troubles didn’t end there. After her guilty plea, she provided false information to the federal probation office, including claiming that she had served in the United States military when she had not, and providing the office with an address on a street that does not exist. This further exacerbated the situation, as she also used the names Nicole Whitaker, Nicole Woodell, Nicole Spivey, and Nicole Whitaker-Spivey.

United States Marshals arrested Ball in October 2021, after she failed to appear in court. Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, commended the investigation by the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General, U.S. Marshals, Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, and Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General. Special Assistant United States Attorney Timothy Landry is representing the United States in this case.

Nicole Ball, 49, of Cincinnati, was sentenced to 17 months in prison for misusing another person’s Social Security number, lying to the court about her military service, and failing to appear at her sentencing hearing. The defendant was arrested in October 2021, after she failed to appear in court.

This case serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of identity theft and the importance of honesty and integrity in all dealings. The people of Cincinnati can rest a little easier knowing that justice has been served in this case.

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