Federal authorities in the Eastern District of Missouri have indicted 14 individuals accused of defrauding government programs, resulting in losses totaling $1 million. The cases involve allegations such as disability fraud, pandemic relief fraud, and theft of Social Security and other benefits.
Among those charged are a home health aide suspected of stealing a client’s Social Security retirement and Veterans Administration benefits, and a pest control business owner alleged to have fraudulently obtained disability payments. Others are accused of receiving benefits intended for deceased individuals.
“This new position is allowing us to expand our prosecutions of Social Security and other frauds and will mean that we can recover hundreds of thousands of dollars of taxpayer money in the short term alone,” said U.S. Attorney Thomas C. Albus. “These programs are designed to aid those who desperately need the money, and fraud and abuse will not be tolerated.”
Michelle L. Anderson, Assistant Inspector General for Audit at the SSA Office of Inspector General, stated: “SSA OIG special agents work closely with prosecutors and our federal law enforcement partners to investigate allegations of Social Security fraud and hold offenders accountable. These cases demonstrate the value of dedicated resources focused on identifying fraud schemes and ensuring that those responsible face justice.”
The prosecutions are led by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jolene Taaffe, whose position is funded by the Social Security Administration (SSA). This role is one among nearly two dozen created nationwide, bringing the total number to 47 across 43 offices, with further hires planned.
On April 15, 2025, President Donald J. Trump signed a Presidential Memorandum titled Preventing Illegal Aliens from Obtaining Social Security Act Benefits. The memorandum authorized an expansion of a partnership between the SSA and Justice Department, detailing attorneys to U.S. Attorney Offices throughout the country to handle referrals from SSA special agents for potential prosecution.
The memorandum has increased SSA’s full-time fraud prosecution program to at least 50 U.S. Attorney Offices nationwide. It also directs priority assignment of new prosecutors to offices serving areas with large populations of undocumented immigrants.
Additionally, the directive established a collaboration between the Department of Justice and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for prosecuting beneficiary fraud related to Medicare and Medicaid programs administered by CMS.
National “Slam the Scam” Day was observed on March 5 as part of efforts during National Consumer Protection Week organized by the Federal Trade Commission. The day aims to educate people about imposter scams involving government agencies like SSA. Resources on how to protect against such scams can be found at ssa.gov/scam/resources or https://consumer.ftc.gov/features/national-consumer-protection-week#Avoid.
Authorities encourage reporting suspected Social Security-related scams through oig.ssa.gov or by calling 1-800-269-0271. Other scams can be reported at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
Investigations into these cases were conducted by several agencies including the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General, Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, and Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.
All charges described in indictments are accusations only; all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
