Social Security Employee Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud

Tabaris Archie Brown, a former employee of the Social Security Administration office in Birmingham, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to stealing personal information and benefits.  In the plea agreement, Brown pleaded guilty to one count each of wire fraud, theft of government property, and aggravated identity theft.  The remained eleven charges from an indictment filed in United States District Court will be dropped if Brown is able to meet the stipulations of the agreement.

Brown, 35, worked as a teleservice representative in the SSA Teleservice Center in Birmingham, AL, between April and July 2013.  Brown’s job was to receive calls and answer inquiries from SSA beneficiaries. These duties required access to SSA databases such as the Master Beneficiary Record for Social Security beneficiaries.  Brown used access to accounts and information such as social security numbers to alter bank deposit information.  This enabled him to steal the social security benefits from eleven victims and have the funds deposited into his own personal banking accounts.

The maximum penalty for wire fraud is 20 years in prison and fines of up to $250,000.  The maximum penalty for theft of government property is 10 years in prison and fines up to $250,000.  The aggravated identity theft charge carries a minimum prison sentence of two years and a maximum fine of $100,000.  Brown will also be required to pay restitution for the money that was successfully diverted into his accounts.

Tabaris Brown will remain on bond until his sentencing hearing which has been scheduled for July 10, 2014 at 10:00 a.m.

The Social Security Administration’s Office of Inspector General investigated this case.