Cincinnati woman arrested for identity theft, Social Security fraud crimes

CINCINNATI -- A Cincinnati woman was arrested today on federal charges alleging she stole the identity of a deceased child and used it to avoid a pending criminal prosecution and to obtain thousands of dollars in government benefits.

Christina Vaskovsky, 56, is charged with wire fraud, misusing a Social Security Number and aggravated identity theft.

According to an affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, Vaskovsky was indicted in Hamilton County in July 2008 for allegedly stealing $14,500 from her employer. Vaskovsky failed to appear at her trial scheduled in December 2008. A nationwide warrant was issued for her arrest.

In 2010, Vaskovsky allegedly obtained a new Ohio driver’s license using the name, date of birth and Social Security number of a child who was born the same year as Vaskovsky but who died in 1977.

It is alleged that the defendant then began using the child’s identity in a variety of contexts over a span of 13 years, including:

• Receiving $19,570 in food stamp benefits;
• Filing bankruptcy to discharge nearly $128,000 in debt;
• Obtaining Social Security disability benefits totaling nearly $36,000;
• Providing the false identity upon being arrested for shoplifting in Kentucky;
• Applying on five separate occasions for Economic Injury Disaster Loans;
• Receiving more than $11,600 in unemployment benefits; and
• Obtaining Supplemental Security Income disability benefits totaling $4,300.

Vaskovsky is scheduled to appear in federal court in Cincinnati at 1:30pm today.

Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, announced the charges. This case is being investigated by the Social Security Administration’s Office of Inspector General with assistance from the USDA Office of Inspector General, Ohio BMV Investigations, Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, United States Postal Inspection Service and U.S. Marshals Service. Special Assistant United States Attorney Timothy Landry is representing the United States in this case.

A criminal complaint merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

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