Duson Woman Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Social Security Fraud

LAFAYETTE, La.: United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today that Hazel A. Broussard, 52, of Duson, La., was sentenced this week to two years in prison followed by three years of supervised release for mail fraud. U.S. District Judge Richard T. Haik also ordered the defendant to pay $269,282 in restitution to the United States.

Broussard entered a plea of guilty on July 18, 2012, to one count of mail fraud. According to documents filed with the court, Broussard received Social Security Administration (SSA) benefits over a 27 year period to which she was not entitled. The SSA benefits were intended for her uncle, whom she lived with in Lafayette during the last few weeks of his life. After her uncle’s death, Broussard failed to inform the SSA, causing the SSA to keep sending the checks. As a result of her scheme, Broussard fraudulently obtained $269,282 from the SSA.

United States Attorney Finley stated, “Abuse of Social Security disability benefits hurts those who are truly in need of assistance because they are injured or are no longer able to work. This type of fraud is unacceptable, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, along with the Office of Inspector General, is committed to aggressively pursuing criminals who steal from the Social Security Administration.”

The case was investigated by Special Agent Dirk Bergeron of the Office of Inspector General, Social Security Administration, Baton Rouge Resident Agency, and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joseph T. Mickel.