OMAHA-United States Attorney Joe Kelly announced that Brandi J. Baxter, 40, of Grand Island, Nebraska, was sentenced today in Lincoln, Nebraska, by Chief United States District Judge John M. Gerrard for social security fraud, by false document. Baxter was sentenced to 5 years’ probation with special conditions and an additional condition of home confinement for 6 months. She will also be required to pay $38,065.24 in restitution. There is no parole in the federal system.
From 2011 and 2015 Baxter received social security benefits on behalf of her minor children from the Social Security Administration (SSA) as well as SNAP benefits from the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). Baxter was required to ensure correct information on the paperwork for these benefits. Baxter made repeated misrepresentations to the SSA and Nebraska DHHS regarding her financial resources by indicating that her husband did not live in the family home and did not contribute to the family income. These misrepresentations impacted her ability to receive benefits. Baxter knowingly made these misrepresentations to acquire greater benefits.
As a result of Baxter’s scheme, the SSA loss was $19,433.24. The loss to Nebraska DHHS has been assessed at $18,632. The total benefits paid to Baxter, that she was ineligible to receive from SSA and Nebraska DHHS, totals $38,065.24.
This case was investigated by the Office of Inspector General for the Social Security Administration and the Office of Inspector General for the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.