Former Social Security Administration Worker Accused of Stealing $1.8 Million in Brazen Scheme
A former Security Administration (SSA) employee is accused of using her position to steal over $1.8 million in Social Security funds.
Prosecutors say Myrna Faria, also known as Myrna Oliveras-Santiago, stole the money over a 12-year period, from March 2012 to March 2024.
“The defendant charged in this case allegedly abused the trust placed in her by the Social Security Administration and the public,” said U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico W. Stephen Muldrow.
Fraudulent Claims in Focus
Faria worked at the SSA office in San Juan, Puerto Rico as a Social Insurance Specialist and a Claims Specialist from 1991 to 2019. The alleged crimes continued to occur after Faria retired in 2019.
According to court documents, Faria used her position to submit false claims on behalf of others, using the identity of individuals she believed to be deceased. Faria then approved the claims and had the SSA beneficiary proceeds sent to her own bank accounts.
Prosecutors say Farai submitted and approved 13 fraudulent claims over the 12-year period, with ten of the claims active and receiving funds on the date of the indictment, March 6, 2024.
“The subject in this case used her position as an employee of the Social Security Administration to create false benefits claims using social security numbers for deceased individuals, as well as other tactics, and in doing so, she stole almost 2 million dollars. Even after she retired, she continued to enrich herself illegally. This is embarrassing and despicable conduct by a public official, someone called to serve the people, not take from them,” said FBI San Juan Field Office Special Agent in Charge Joseph González.
The SSA Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), and the Puerto Rico Police Bureau are continuing the investigation.
Faria faces charges of theft of government funds, mail fraud, misuse of Social Security numbers and aggravated identity theft. If convicted, the charges each have maximum penalties ranging from 5 to 20 years in federal prison.