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FBI arrests woman charged with claiming dead person’s SSI benefit
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Posted on Jun 19 2005
The Federal Bureau of Investigation arrested a woman last week on charges that she stole public money by continuously claiming Social Security benefits on behalf of another person who was already dead.
Federal prosecutors charged Dolores Tomokane with theft of public money, failure to disclose an event affecting Social Security SSI [supplemental security income], and making fraudulent statements.
Tomokane, however, denied the charges during her arraignment at the U.S. District Court Friday.
In the indictment, federal prosecutor Jamie Bowers said Tomokane fraudulently received and cashed 35 SSI benefit payment checks made by SSA to one Sabino M. Apong, for whom she had acted as representative payee.
Investigation revealed, though, that Apong had died since May 3, 2000. The total amount of money that Tomokane had allegedly illegally converted for her own use reached $18,711.
Bowers accused Tomokane of concealing Apong’s death from the Social Security Administration to fraudulently secure SSI payments for him when those payments were no longer authorized.
The prosecutor also charged Tomokane with making fraudulent statements on Feb. 14, 2001, when she requested for an advance SSI payment.
“Specifically, defendant signed a claim statement, requesting an advance SSI payment of $477 on behalf of beneficiary, Sabino Apong, knowing that Apong had been dead since May 3, 2000,” Bowers said.
Chief Judge Alex Munson initially imposed no bail on Tomokane last Thursday. During Friday’s arraignment, he allowed the defendant’s release on bail with conditions upon request by the prosecution.
The judge ordered Tomokane to surrender her travel documents and appear in all proceedings regarding the charges against her. The judge also declared that Tomokane could not leave Saipan without permission from the court. He said Tomokane could not change residence without first notifying the court.
