In Austin today, federal agents arrested three individuals based on allegations that they misused Social Security Information and/or Benefits announced United States Attorney Richard L. Durbin, Jr., and Resident Agent in Charge Ron Trevino, Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General-Office of Investigations.
On November 1, 2016 a federal grand jury returned three unrelated indictments alleging fraud involving Social Security Administration Benefits programs. The first indictment charges 58–year-old Carlos Jimenez Saldana of Austin with one count of felony theft of government money. The indictment alleges that from August 2006 to March 2014, Saldana stole $77,000 in Social Security Administration funds, to which he was not entitled.
The second indictment charges 60-year-old David Royce Davis (aka Maverick Garrett) of Austin with two counts of Social Security Fraud and two counts of Aggravated Identity Theft. The indictment alleges that in July 2015, Davis used the Social Security Number (SSN) of a deceased individual to renew his Texas driver’s license. The indictment further alleges that in September 2015, Davis used the SSN of the same deceased individual to apply for a Social Security Card.
The third indictment charges 36-year-old Lameka Alexander Lowe of Austin with one count of felony Theft of Government Funds and two counts of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Benefits fraud. The indictment alleges that in 2012 and 2013, Lowe knowingly made false representations to the Social Security Administration. Specifically, she concealed from the agency that her son’s father was a member of the household and failed to report his financial earnings in order to continue receiving unauthorized SSI benefits on behalf of her son. Between December 2009 and June 2015, the indictment alleges that the defendant, as a result of her fraudulent scheme, stole more than $40,000 from the government.
Upon conviction, theft of government money calls for up to ten years in federal prison; Social Security Fraud, up to five years in federal prison; aggravated identity theft, a mandatory two years in federal prison; and, supplemental security income benefits fraud, up to five years in federal prison. All three were released on bond following their initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew Austin in Austin. Arraignments are scheduled for November 18, 2016, before Judge Austin.
The Social Security Administration estimates billions of dollars of SSA Title II, Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) and Title XVI, SSI Benefit Program Funds are lost yearly due to fraud nationwide. The Social Security Administration’s Office of Inspector General in partnership with the U.S. Attorney Offices nationwide continue to actively prosecute Theft of Government Funds related to fraud perpetrated on SSA Benefit Programs. Special Assistant United States Attorney Yvonne S. Gonzalez is prosecuting these cases on behalf of the government.
An indictment is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt. The defendants are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.