A Social Security worker managed to steal $75,000 from his company by creating faux identities for 2 kids who by no means existed, then having the federal government ship them almost three years of profit checks, in line with federal prosecutors.
Lee Marvin Nichols was arrested earlier this week and has his first courtroom look slated for Friday in Texas.
Prosecutors say he was working as a claims specialist on the time of the scheme.
He processed a incapacity declare of a terminally unwell man in March 2020, then later fabricated the identities of two juveniles and linked them to a severely disabled girl in Mexico whom he wrote in because the mom, authorities mentioned.
When the terminally unwell disabled man died, Mr. Nichols then linked him as the 2 fictitious kids’s father and directed that they get survivor advantages. The cash began flowing in September 2020 and continued up by way of this summer season, prosecutors charged within the five-page indictment.
They mentioned he collected no less than $75,000 in Social Security funds and likewise collected $1,400 for every “child” in bogus pandemic stimulus checks in 2021.
When he went to entry the cash, he wore sun shades, hats pulled down low over his face and balaclavas to attempt to conceal his id, prosecutors mentioned.
No lawyer was listed for Mr. Nichols as of Thursday morning.
Social Security wouldn’t say what Mr. Nichols’ employment standing is, calling it a personnel matter.
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