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Press Release

Gansevoort Woman Indicted on Charges of Supplemental Security Income Fraud and Theft of Government Property

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of New York

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Santa Sanabria, a.k.a. Santa Cordero, age 74, of Gansevoort, New York, was arraigned on an indictment charging her with using two different names and Social Security numbers to collect Social Security benefits under both identities.

The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon and John F. Grasso, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration (SSA), Office of the Inspector General, New York Field Office.

The indictment alleges that while collecting Social Security benefits under the name Santa Cordero, and the Social Security number associated with that name, Sanabria used a different name and Social Security number to apply for and collect Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits to which she was not entitled.  SSI is a needs-based program, available to elderly, blind, and disabled individuals, that provides money to pay for living expenses. The charges in the indictment are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Sanabria was arraigned today in Albany before United States Magistrate Judge Christian F. Hummel, and ordered released pending trial.

The charges against Sanabria carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years.  A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.

This case is being investigated by the SSA Office of the Inspector General and is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian S. LaRochelle.

Updated October 14, 2020

Topic
Financial Fraud