Social Security and Disability Law

Attorney David W. Magann, PA, Warns Public of New Social Security Phishing Scam Granting Hackers Remote Access to Devices

July 7, 2025

Tampa, Florida – A new phishing scam is targeting Social Security recipients through emails that appear to come from the Social Security Administration (SSA), cybersecurity researchers warn. The messages prompt recipients to download what looks like their Social Security statement, but the attachment actually installs a remote access tool that gives hackers full control of…

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Social Security Administration Employee Charged with Fraudulently Obtaining COVID-19 Related Benefits

July 3, 2025
Social Security Administration Employee Charged with Fraudulently Obtaining COVID-19 Related Benefits

U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of Missouri KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Missouri woman was arrested today following an indictment by a federal grand jury charging her with defrauding the United States government by fraudulently obtaining pandemic benefits. Tiffanie Foster, 48, was charged with two counts of wire fraud for fraudulently receiving pandemic…

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National Health Care Fraud Takedown Results In 324 Defendants Charged In Connection With Over $14.6 Billion In Alleged Fraud

July 2, 2025
National Health Care Fraud Takedown Results In 324 Defendants Charged In Connection With Over $14.6 Billion In Alleged Fraud

U.S. Attorney’s Office, Middle District of Florida Tampa, Florida – The Justice Department today announced the results of its 2025 National Health Care Fraud Takedown, which resulted in criminal charges against 324 defendants, including 96 doctors, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, and other licensed medical professionals, in 50 federal districts and 12 State Attorneys General’s Offices across the…

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Nigerian National Sentenced to Federal Prison for Role in $8-Million Federal Emergency Assistance Benefits Fraud Scheme

July 2, 2025
Nigerian National Sentenced to Federal Prison for Role in $8-Million Federal Emergency Assistance Benefits Fraud Scheme

U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Maryland GREENBELT– Today, U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow sentenced Newton Ofioritse Jemide, 47, a Nigerian national extradited from France, to 41 months in federal prison for his role in a scheme to fraudulently obtain federal benefits. Jemide will also serve three years of supervised release, pay $520,431.83 of restitution, and a forfeiture…

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Social Security Employee Pleads Guilty to Stealing Benefits

July 1, 2025
Social Security Employee Pleads Guilty to Stealing Benefits

U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Georgia ATLANTA – Christina Daniels, a former employee of the Social Security Administration, pled guilty yesterday in federal court to theft of government property and aggravated identity theft. “As an employee of the Social Security Administration, Daniels was entrusted with access to millions of beneficiaries’ personally identifiable information. She…

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Brazilian National Sentenced for Unlawful Reentry and Selling Green Cards and Counterfeit Social Security Cards

July 1, 2025
Brazilian National Sentenced for Unlawful Reentry and Selling Green Cards and Counterfeit Social Security Cards

U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Massachusetts BOSTON – A Brazilian national unlawfully residing in Woburn, Mass. was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for unlawfully reentering the United States after deportation as well as selling fraudulent Social Security cards and Legal Permanent Resident cards, often referred to as “Green Cards.”   Liene Tavares DeBarros,…

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Two Convicted for their Roles in Multi-Million Dollar Transnational Telephone Scam

June 27, 2025
Two Convicted for their Roles in Multi-Million Dollar Transnational Telephone Scam

U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Georgia ATLANTA – Pradip Parikh, 67, of Valley Stream, New York, and Alpesh Patel, 40, of Louisa, Virginia, have been convicted for their roles in a scam that defrauded unsuspecting Americans out of millions of dollars after a five-day jury trial.                                                                                                                                          “This case involved a scheme to defraud…

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Middlesex County Woman Admits to COVID-19 Relief Program Fraud

June 27, 2025
Middlesex County Woman Admits to COVID-19 Relief Program Fraud

U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of New Jersey TRENTON, N.J. – A Middlesex County, New Jersey, woman admitted that she fraudulently obtained Economic Injury Disaster Loan (“EIDL”), Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”), and pandemic unemployment insurance benefits, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced. Damaris Valerio, a/k/a Damaris Tineo Abreu, 42, of Perth Amboy, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before…

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Florida Non-Profit Founder And Accountant Charged With Stealing Over $100 Million From Special Needs Victims

June 25, 2025
Florida Non-Profit Founder And Accountant Charged With Stealing Over $100 Million From Special Needs Victims

U.S. Attorney’s Office, Middle District of Florida Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the  unsealing of an indictment charging Leo Joseph Govoni (67, Clearwater) and John Leo Witeck (60, Tampa) in connection with a fraud scheme that involved stealing more than $100 million from, and ultimately bankrupting, a non-profit organization in Clearwater that…

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Suburban Chicago Man Indicted for Allegedly Fraudulently Obtaining Social Security Benefits

June 25, 2025
Suburban Chicago Man Indicted for Allegedly Fraudulently Obtaining Social Security Benefits

U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Illinois CHICAGO — A suburban Chicago man has been charged in federal court with fraudulently obtaining Social Security benefits in the name of his deceased father. A grand jury sitting in Chicago has indicted RICHARD YOUNG, JR., 61, of Maywood, Ill., on four counts of bank fraud and one…

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