A Franklin County woman is in the hot seat after being indicted on charges of swindling the Social Security Administration out of a hefty sum. The 54-year-old, Starr Lumos, also known as Starr Rodrigue, stands accused of pulling more than $174,000 over a period of 14 years, by allegedly concealing her true physical capabilities and her involvement in various business ventures.
On April 16, the U.S. District Court in St. Louis saw the official indictment of Lumos on two counts: one for theft of government money, and another for withholding pertinent information from the Social Security Administration. Despite the weight of the allegations, when she turned herself in on Wednesday, Lumos pleaded not guilty to everything she's been charged with. According to a report from the U.S. Department of Justice, from Oct. 1, 2009 to March 1, 2024, she allegedly kept mum about her physical abilities, and her role and income from several businesses, exploiting just north of $174,000 in disability payments.
It should be noted, however, that an indictment is not the same as a conviction. They are, as the saying goes, just accusations—the presumption of innocence remains till the courts decide otherwise. Lumos could be facing up to 10 years behind bars for the theft charge, whereas the concealment charge could lock her up to five years. There's also the matter of a possible $250,000 fine for each charge.
The Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General's Cooperative Disability Investigations Unit conducted the investigation that led to Lumos' indictment. Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane Klocke, is at the helm prosecuting this case.
