Sophia Dix, Wire Fraud, Virginia 2014

NORFOLK, Va. – In a brazen case of theft, a Social Security employee has admitted to swiping over $56,000 in benefit payments from unsuspecting recipients.

Sophia Dix, 35, of Newport News, pleaded guilty to charges of wire fraud, a serious offense that can land her in prison for up to 20 years. The crime was uncovered after a thorough investigation by the Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General.

According to court documents, Dix, a service representative for the SSA in Norfolk, used her computer access to reroute the payments into her own bank account between April 2014 and August 2015. The scheme went undetected for over a year, with Dix amassing a staggering $56,000 in ill-gotten gains.

Dix was indicted by a federal grand jury on March 9 and is set to be sentenced on July 21. The maximum penalty she faces is a 20-year prison term, although the actual sentence will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Dana J. Boente and Michael McGill, Special Agent in Charge of the SSA’s Office of the Inspector General, made the announcement after the plea was accepted by Senior U.S. District Judge Robert G. Doumar.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth M. Yusi is prosecuting the case, which has raised questions about the security measures in place at the SSA to prevent such thefts. The case is a stark reminder that even those in positions of trust can be tempted by the lure of easy money.

The SSA and its Office of the Inspector General have been working tirelessly to uncover and prevent similar cases of theft and corruption. In this case, their efforts have paid off, with Dix facing the consequences of her actions. The public can be assured that those who abuse their positions of trust will be brought to justice.

For more information on this case and others like it, visit the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia website or the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia website. Related court documents and information can also be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:16cr32.

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