News and Press Releases
Woman sentenced forembezzling $25,716 in Social Security benefits
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 6, 2012
MINNEAPOLIS—Earlier today in federal court in Duluth, a former employee of a company responsible for serving Social Security beneficiaries was sentenced for stealing approximately $25,716 in Social Security benefits from three of the company’s clients. United States District Court Judge David S. Doty sentenced Tiffannie Ollila, age 29, no known address, to two years of probation on one count of theft of government money. She was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $9,000, having already repaid some of the money stolen. Ollila was indicted on January 19, 2012, and pleaded guilty on March 6, 2012.
In her plea agreement, Ollila admitted that from June 20 to October 21, 2008, she embezzled the money, which had come into her possession by virtue of her employment as a representative payee for the Social Security Administration (“SSA”). In addition, Ollila admittedly 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.
This case was the result of an investigation by the SSA’s Office of Inspector General. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lola Velazquez-Aguilu.
