SOCIAL SECURITY LAW: Social Security Administration Employee Faces Theft Charges

August 23, 2011

Los Angeles - A Social Security Administration (SSA) worker was indicted on four counts of theft on Tuesday.

According to reports, Gezel Rebbecca Duran, a claims representative, told four beneficiaries that SSA has overpaid them. She collected at least $6,000 as returns, but deposited the amount into her personal bank account. The authorities discovered the fraud in 2009 and pursued the investigation until October 2010.

The 32-year-old Social Security employee had processed applications and payments, and had direct access to beneficiaries' account.

The investigators are still working on 15 other cases, in which beneficiaries have returned at least $17,000 to Duran.