Owego Man Charged in Decades-Long Identity Theft Scheme
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OWEGO, NY (WENY) -- A federal grand jury has indicted an Owego man, who was arrested and charged with fraud and identity theft in a scheme dating back to 1999.
The man, known only at this time as John Doe, faces federal charges of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) fraud, and aggravated identity theft. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of New York, the man used the name, social security number, and birthdate of another person to apply for SSI benefits he was not entitled to.
The alleged fraud began in 1999, and continued to the present. Authorities say the man's real identity has yet to be confirmed. Doe was arraigned in U.S. District Court in Syracuse, and a trial is pending.
If convicted, Doe faces a maximum of five years in prison, and a fine of up to $250,000 on the SSI fraud charge. The aggravated identity theft charge carries a maximum sentence of two years in federal prison.
The case is being investigated by the Tioga County Sheriff's Office, Tioga County Department of Social Services, the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian LaRochelle.
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