Georgian Former Social Security Employee Pleads Guilty to $110,000 Identity Theft Scheme
Christina Daniels, 47, of Winder, Georgia, pleaded guilty in federal court to theft of government property and aggravated identity theft after using her position at the Social Security Administration (SSA) to divert over $110,000 in benefits.
According to U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg, Daniels accessed and altered direct deposit information for approximately 28 SSA beneficiaries between January 2023 and May 2024 while employed as a customer service representative at the SSA office in Norcross, Georgia. She redirected their benefits to Green Dot and Cash App accounts she controlled, which were opened using stolen personally identifiable information.
The scheme was uncovered after several beneficiaries reported missing payments. An internal investigation revealed Daniels had used stolen information, including data from her own family members, to set up fraudulent accounts and reroute the payments.
Daniels pleaded guilty to one count of theft of government funds, which carries a maximum 10-year sentence, and one count of aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory additional two-year sentence. Sentencing will be held at a later date before U.S. District Judge J.P. Boulee.
The case is being investigated by the Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General and prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane C. Schulman.
