FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT

AUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC at 410-209-4885  

September 27, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                  

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

OLNEY WOMAN SENTENCED FOR CONCEALING INFORMATION FROM THE OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT TO RECEIVE DEATH BENEFITS

Received Benefits 22 Years After Mother’s Death of Over $728,000

GREENBELT, Maryland - Dana Joanne Price, age 48, of Olney, Maryland, was sentenced today to 14 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for concealing information from the Office of Personnel Management, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein.

According to the statement of facts provided to the court on May 16, 2006 as part of the plea agreement, Joan Price lawfully received survivor benefits based on her husband’s federal civilian service until her death on September 3, 1983. After her mother’s death, Dana Price was not eligible for any benefits. Between 1983 and 2005, however, Dana Price concealed from OPM that her mother was deceased and annuity payments continued to be made to Joan Price’s bank account.

On January 9, 1989, Dana Price wrote a letter to OPM using her mother’s address and social security number, and signed it as Joan Price. She requested that OPM “send my checks to my home rather than directly deposit them into my checking account.” In 1993, Dana Price submitted a form to OPM using her mother’s name and address. In 1995, she again certified Joan’ Price’s name and address in a letter to OPM. The OPM form Dana Price signed contained a specific section that was to be filled out if the annuitant had died.

After Joan Price’s death, OPM paid out a gross amount of benefits in her name of $813,903. The net amount of payments improperly used by Dana Price was $728,175.32.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the investigative work performed by the Office of Personnel Management - Office of Inspector General. Mr. Rosenstein also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Stuart Berman, who prosecuted the case.

This page last modified—September 27, 2006