FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT

AUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC at 410-209-4885  

November 30, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                  

http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/md                                       

ELLICOTT CITY WOMAN INDICTED FOR THEFT OF GOVERNMENT PROPERTY

Allegedly Used Dead Man’s Identity to Steal Over $82,000 in

Social Security Disability Benefits During Eight Year Period

Baltimore, Maryland - A federal grand jury today indicted Penny Banks, age 45, of Ellicott City, Maryland for theft of government property, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein.

According to the indictment, from August 1998 to January 2006, Banks stole $82,462 in social security disability (SSD) benefits deposited into the bank account of Ronald Ellis for her own use. Ellis and Banks had lived in the same apartment complex and become friends. According to the indictment, when Ellis was moved into a nursing home facility due to his declining health, mail relating to his bank account was forwarded to Banks. Ellis died on July 30, 1998, but his SSD benefits continued to be directly deposited into his bank account. Banks is alleged to have forged Ellis’s signature and wrote checks from his bank account to pay for her bills and expenses. She also caused debtors to withdraw money from Ellis’s bank account to pay her bills and expenses.

Banks faces a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment followed by 3 years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000.

An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the investigative work performed by the Social Security Administration - Office of Inspector General. Mr. Rosenstein also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Tonya Kelly Kowitz, who is prosecuting the case.

This page last modified—November 30, 2006