⏱ 2 min read
Barbara Augustin, a 59-year-old woman from Franklinton, Louisiana, has been sentenced for stealing $43,477 in Social Security Administration (SSA) benefits. Between November 2018 and May 2023, Augustin knowingly converted SSA money to her own use, despite not being entitled to it. She achieved this by failing to report her son’s incarceration to Social Security, allowing her to continue receiving benefits on his behalf as his representative payee.
The case was investigated by the Social Security Administration – Office of Inspector General, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiwana Wright, Financial Crimes Unit. Augustin pleaded guilty to theft of government funds in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 641.
On July 16, 2026, U.S. District Judge Carl J. Barbier sentenced Augustin to three years probation and ordered her to pay restitution of $43,477, as well as a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. The sentence reflects the severity of Augustin’s crime, which involved deceiving the SSA to receive benefits she was not entitled to.
The Department of Justice has been actively working to combat fraud, including the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. This division is tasked with investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people, supporting President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud.
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Defendant: Louisiana
- Location: LA
- Source: DOJ Press Release
