SCRANTON, PA – Takiyah Gordon Austin, a 47-year-old former Social Security Administration employee from Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, has pleaded guilty to charges of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. The guilty plea comes after an investigation into her scheme to defraud the government of over $288,000 in Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) funds.
Austin, who served as a claims specialist with SSA, is accused of using her access to personal identifying information from unsuspecting individuals to file PUA claims for ineligible recipients. She then reportedly diverted the unemployment benefits to addresses under her control for personal use.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Austin’s scheme spanned from May 2020 to May 2021, during which she committed these fraudulent acts. Her actions not only exploited the government’s efforts to help individuals affected by the COVID-19 pandemic but also undermined the integrity of the Social Security Administration.
Michael McGill, Special Agent in Charge for the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General, Philadelphia Field Division, emphasized the seriousness of Austin’s crimes, stating, ‘Her criminal actions undermine the integrity of Social Security employees and programs.’
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General also highlighted their commitment to safeguarding unemployment compensation benefit programs, indicating their ongoing collaboration with law enforcement partners.
Assistant United States Attorneys Alison V. Martin and Megan Curran are prosecuting this case, which was investigated by the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General; the Department of Labor, Office of the Inspector General; and the United States Postal Inspection Service. The maximum penalty for wire fraud is 20 years’ imprisonment, while aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory two-year sentence consecutive to other offenses.
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Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Public Corruption|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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