SSA Rep Allegedly Stole $50K in Pandemic Funds

KANSAS CITY, MO – A Kansas City woman who held a position of public trust allegedly exploited the chaos of the pandemic to line her own pockets. Tiffanie Foster, 48, was arrested today and faces federal charges after a grand jury indicted her on two counts of wire fraud, accusing her of stealing over $50,000 in COVID-19 related benefits.

Foster, a full-time customer service representative with the Social Security Administration (SSA), is accused of submitting doctored documents and outright lies to secure both a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan and unemployment benefits. The indictment details a calculated scheme to defraud the United States, even while employed by an agency tasked with administering vital benefits to others. It’s a betrayal of the public trust, plain and simple.

The scheme came to light through the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee, which flagged a list of SSA employees whose identities were used in fraudulent applications. Foster’s name surfaced on that list, revealing she’d secured multiple pandemic assistance loans and unemployment benefits despite being a Missouri resident and fully employed. She allegedly filed for unemployment in Michigan in July 2020, raking in over $30,000 in benefits throughout 2020 and 2021.

But the alleged greed didn’t stop there. In early 2021, Foster allegedly applied for a $20,833 PPP loan for a business she claimed to operate. The application included a falsified tax form 1040 Schedule C and a manipulated bank statement designed to inflate her business’s financial standing. The Small Business Administration ultimately forgave the loan, meaning Foster pocketed the funds without having to repay a dime.

Federal prosecutors are quick to point out that these are merely accusations at this stage. Foster is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a federal court of law. However, if convicted on both counts of wire fraud, she faces a potential sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison – with no parole – and three years of supervised release per count. The final sentence will be determined by the judge, considering sentencing guidelines and other factors.

The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda K. Hanson, with investigations led by the Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General and the Department of Labor’s Office of the Inspector General. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled following the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office. This case serves as a stark reminder that even those entrusted with public service are not above the law, and those who exploit crisis for personal gain will be held accountable.

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