A New Jersey woman is facing charges for allegedly stealing over $1 million in benefits meant for her aunt, who died in 1998.
Janis Miller, 77, of South Orange, allegedly collected her aunt's Social Security Administration retirement benefits and surviving spouse benefits for 25 years.
Miller’s aunt died in 1998 and the Social Security Administration was unaware of her death, prosecutors said.
The U.S. Office of Personnel Management paid nearly $1.01 million in retirement and survivor benefits to Miller's deceased aunt's bank account, according to court documents.
Miller was allegedly able to disburse the money through using debit card, cash withdrawals and forged checks made out to a company Miller controlled.
She also allegedly impersonated her deceased aunt in 2022 while on the phone with an SSA employee.
The U.S. Office of Personnel Management and SSA discovered the fraud just this year and discontinued the benefits, roughly 25 years after Miller's alleged scheme began.
Miller was arrested and charged with one count of wire fraud. She was released on $100,000 unsecured bond.
The wire fraud charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of either $250,000 or double the money involved in the fraud, whichever is higher.