News and Press Releases
Woman indicted for embezzling $25,716 in Social Security benefits
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 26, 2012
MINNEAPOLIS—A federal indictment unsealed earlier this week charges a former
employee of a company responsible for serving Social Security beneficiaries with actually
stealing approximately $25,716 in Social Security benefits from three of the company’s clients.
The indictment charges Tiffannie Ollila, age 28, no known address, with one count of theft of
government money. The indictment, which was filed on January 19, 2012, was unsealed
following Ollila’s initial appearance in federal court this week.
The indictment alleges that from June 20 to October 21, 2008, Ollila embezzled the money,
which had come into her possession by virtue of her employment as a representative payee for
the Social Security Administration (“SSA”). Ollila allegedly wrote checks to herself and also
used “electronic bill pay” to pay her personal bills from client accounts. The company that
formerly employed her is located in Itasca County.
If convicted, Ollila faces a potential maximum penalty of ten years in prison. All sentences
will be determined by a federal district court judge. This case is the result of an investigation by
the SSA’s Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States
Attorney Kimberly M. Hare.
An indictment is a determination by a grand jury that there is probable cause to believe that offenses have been committed by a defendant. A defendant, of course, is presumed innocent until he or she pleads guilty or is proven guilty at trial.
