Federal Jury convicts Helena woman of lying about income to receive government assistance benefits

HELENA  — A federal jury today convicted a Helena woman, who was accused of lying about her income and employment to illegally receive government benefits intended to help low-income individuals and families, of multiple crimes, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.

After a four-day trial that began on Sept. 26, the jury found Nena Helene Siemens, aka Nena Suzanne Kruger, 59, guilty of two counts of false statement or representation made to a department or agency of the United States and one count of theft of government money.  Siemens faces a maximum of 10 years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.

Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The court set sentencing for March 6, 2024 and continued Siemens’ release pending further proceedings.

“Despite receiving significant income and running her own business, Siemens lied on numerous applications so she could receive federal assistance benefits for which she was not eligible. Siemens’ brazen and prolonged conduct took taxpayer-funded aid from families that truly need help. The jury held her accountable. I want to thank Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael A. Kakuk and Jeffrey K. Starnes, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General and the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services for their work on this case,” U.S. Attorney Laslovich said.

In December 2018, Siemens applied for program assistance benefits through the State of Montana, reporting that she had $1,500 in her bank accounts, no employment and no income. Based on the information, Siemens was approved to receive benefits through the Temporary  Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, which is a program that provides cash assistance for families to meet basic needs.

The government alleged that the information Siemens provided for benefits was false. From March 2014 through August 2017, she lived with Dale Kruger, and they shared multiple bank accounts that had significant deposits of money. Siemens spent an average of roughly $20,000 per month. Siemens also owned and operated a business called Evergreen Dive Service in Washington. In addition, Siemens collected $750 in monthly rent from a couple living on property she owned with Kruger. Siemens never disclosed her living arrangements, accounts or income sources to the State of Montana, even though she routinely received notices from the state regarding reporting requirements for changes in income and other circumstances.

The government further alleged that starting in August 2017, Siemens began transferring and depositing large amounts of money into her personal accounts. Between January 2018 and February 2020, Siemens routinely had income of more than $10,000 per month, which includes bank account transfers, miscellaneous deposits and personal expenses charged to her dive service business accounts. These income sources were never disclosed to the state.

During a 2019 interview with an investigator, Siemens reiterated multiple times that she was not employed, had no income and no assets to liquidate. Contrary to these assertions, Siemens had substantial income in 2019. She purchased a Kubota tractor for $70,000 in June 2018 and a Desert Fox travel trailer for $31,000 in March 2019. In agreements to purchase these items, Siemens typically stated she was employed as the managing member of her business and that her income was between $6,000 and $10,000 per month.

The state of Montana ultimately suspended Siemens’ benefits in February 2020. By then, Siemens had received $2,552 in TANF benefits for which she and her family were not legally eligible. After the state of Montana suspended her benefits, Siemens continued her fraudulent conduct by filing a claim two months later for unemployment with the state of Washington, claiming she was “laid off” by her “employer,” the Evergreen Diver Service.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael A. Kakuk and Jeffrey K. Starnes are prosecuting the case. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General and the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services conducted the investigation.

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