Ernestine Hogue, a 73-year-old woman from Detroit, has been found guilty by a federal jury of siphoning more than $90,000 in Social Security benefits over 12 years, confirmed U.S. Attorney Dawn N. Ison, as reported by CBS News Detroit. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Michigan, Hogue engaged in a fraudulent scheme between 2003 and 2015 where she worked under her legal identity but collected disability benefits using the alias Ernestine Calhoun through a second Social Security number she had acquired illegally.
Hogue, who has now tallied her fourth federal felony conviction for fraud was also accused of repeatedly lying to the Social Security Administration to cover up her employment, therefore, securing unwarranted government payments and acting upon these crimes over a lengthy period, Hogue had wrongfully received a total of $91,461.60, benefits meant for people who are unable to work, as stated by U.S. Attorney Ison who stressed the readiness of her office to prosecute such exploitation of taxpayer-funded programs. The announcement was made alongside Chancellor Melvin, who serves as Acting Special Agent in Charge of the SSA Office of the Inspector General, Chicago Field Division.
The conviction resulted after a two-day trial held in Ann Arbor, before United States District Judge Judith E. Levy, wherein the jury’s verdict directed accountability towards Hogue for deliberately deceiving and extorting the Social Security system, per statements from SSA OIG Acting Special Agent in Charge Melvin in a press release. The case against Hogue was brought to light by the diligent efforts of the special agents from the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General, and the courtroom proceedings were led by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Corinne M. Lambert and Assistant United States Attorney Ryan A. Particka.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Michigan, U.S. Attorney Ison ardently spoke of the government's position on matters involving fraud, "This defendant worked (and lied about working) while receiving Social Security disability benefits—benefits meant for people who are unable to work," and she assured that the actions of Hogue would not go unpunished as they undermine the integrity of vital welfare programs established to serve the truly needy Ison emphasized the government's commitment to preserving the sanctity of taxpayer dollars and ensuring relief reaches its legitimate beneficiaries, reflecting the broader efforts of law enforcement and judiciary systems dedicated to safeguarding public resources against schemes, fraud, and other forms of corruption.
