Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Ex-Social Security worker faces ID charge
Ex-Social Security worker faces ID charge
LOS ANGELES (AP) - A former Social Security Administration employee faces federal charges of allegedly passing along confidential information mined from a government computer to identity thieves who racked up some $2.5 million in illegal credit card purchases, prosecutors said.
Jennifer Batiste, 45, surrendered to authorities Wednesday and was indicted on charges of conspiracy, accessing a protected computer to conduct fraud and disclosure of a Social Security number, according to a statement from the U.S. attorney's office. If convicted on all counts, Batiste could face up to 15 years in prison.
Authorities said she took $20 bribes each time she provided accomplices with information taken from a government database that lists Social Security numbers, mothers' maiden names and birthdays. The accomplices used the data to open new credit card accounts, according to the statement.
One alleged accomplice, Craig Harris, 50, pleaded guilty in September and is awaiting sentencing.
Batiste's arrest is part of an ongoing investigation, federal officials said.
''The American public not only deserves, but demands the highest standards of integrity from government employees that are paid with their tax dollars,'' said David F. Butler, special agent in charge of the Social Security Administration's Office of Inspector General.
LOS ANGELES (AP) - A former Social Security Administration employee faces federal charges of allegedly passing along confidential information mined from a government computer to identity thieves who racked up some $2.5 million in illegal credit card purchases, prosecutors said.
Jennifer Batiste, 45, surrendered to authorities Wednesday and was indicted on charges of conspiracy, accessing a protected computer to conduct fraud and disclosure of a Social Security number, according to a statement from the U.S. attorney's office. If convicted on all counts, Batiste could face up to 15 years in prison.
Authorities said she took $20 bribes each time she provided accomplices with information taken from a government database that lists Social Security numbers, mothers' maiden names and birthdays. The accomplices used the data to open new credit card accounts, according to the statement.
One alleged accomplice, Craig Harris, 50, pleaded guilty in September and is awaiting sentencing.
Batiste's arrest is part of an ongoing investigation, federal officials said.
''The American public not only deserves, but demands the highest standards of integrity from government employees that are paid with their tax dollars,'' said David F. Butler, special agent in charge of the Social Security Administration's Office of Inspector General.
# posted by raveneye @ 12:59 PM 
