By: Richard L. Smith
Ms. Janis Miller, 77, from South Orange, New Jersey, has been indicted on charges of wire fraud for allegedly stealing more than $1 million in federal benefits.
The funds were intended for her deceased aunt, with the fraudulent activity spanning a 25-year period, announced U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger.
Documents presented in court reveal that following the death of Miller's aunt in 1998, the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) unknowingly continued to deposit retirement and survivor benefits into the deceased's bank account.
Federal officials said Miller exploited this oversight by making cash withdrawals, using a debit card, and issuing forged checks linked to a company she controlled, thereby funneling the embezzled funds for personal use.
The deception continued until 2022 when Miller, in an attempt to perpetuate the scheme, impersonated her deceased aunt during a phone call with an SSA employee, providing the aunt's birthdate.
The fraud was eventually detected by the OPM and SSA, leading to the cessation of the benefits in 2023.
If convicted, Miller faces up to 20 years in prison and a maximum fine that could exceed $250,000 or twice the amount of the pecuniary gain or loss caused by her actions, whichever is greater.