Press Releases
NEW ORLEANS WOMAN PLEADS GUILTY TO THEFT OF SOCIAL SECURITY FUNDS
May 21, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
IVY WALKER, 69, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, pled guilty yesterday before U. S. District Judge Mary Ann Vial Lemmon to a one count bill of information for theft of government funds, announced U. S. Attorney Jim Letten.
According to court documents, on October 28, 2004, WALKER applied for Supplemental Security Income Benefits from the Social Security Administration on behalf of herself and her husband. These Supplemental Security Income Benefits, according to court documents, are paid to applicants of a certain age who meet certain income requirements. Though the Social Security application inquired as to WALKER’s real estate holdings, WALKER failed to disclose that she and her husband were the owners of numerous properties throughout the New Orleans, Louisiana metropolitan area. According to the factual basis, had WALKER disclosed these real estate holdings, she and her husband would not have qualified for the Supplemental Security Income Benefits. As a result of her misrepresentation, from 2004 through 2008, WALKER wrongfully received approximately $21,644 in Social Security funds.
The defendant faces a possible maximum penalty of ten (10) years imprisonment, three (3) years supervised release, a $250,000 fine. Sentencing has been scheduled for August 19, 2009 at 2:00 P.M.
The case is being investigated by agents from the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U. S. Attorney Matt Chester.
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