Ruth Nivar, a former employee of the D.C. Department of Human Services, has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for extorting money from individuals seeking public assistance. According to a statement from the office of U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr., obtained by the U.S. Attorney's Office, Nivar's schemes targeted low-income and largely non-English speaking individuals, exploiting their need for healthcare coverage from the government.
The case, detailed in court documents, reveals that Nivar engaged in this corrupt behavior for at least five years, from 2018 to May of 2023. Despite her obligations to serve the public without charge, Nivar demanded payments for her "services," including the processing of applications that her position required her to do gratis. As if to shore up her operation, she brought on an accomplice named Yessica Moya in 2022, when she suspected that law enforcement might be on to her.
Moya, who played a part in the extortion by creating online accounts and submitting application materials, has also pleaded guilty to charges related to the scheme. "Nivar told individuals to pay her accomplice, who would then split the monies evenly with Nivar," says U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr.'s office. Moya’s sentencing is still pending.
This misconduct was brought to a halt thanks to the combined efforts of the FBI's Washington Field Office and the D.C. Office of Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorneys Madhu Chugh and Will Hart of the Fraud, Public Corruption, and Civil Rights Section handled the prosecution. Beyond Nivar's two-year prison sentence, Chief Judge James E. Boasberg has ordered her to serve 12 months of supervised release, a decision meant to hold accountable those who prey on society’s vulnerable populations.
The justice system's response in this case sends a clear message that the manipulation of power and trust for personal gain, especially at the expense of those seeking government assistance, is intolerable. It's a sobering reminder that the procedures in place to aid the less fortunate must be vigilantly protected against those who would corrupt them for selfish ends.
