NJ woman allegedly impersonated her dead aunt, collected $1M+ benefits—for 25 years

NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – A New Jersey woman was indicted on Thursday for allegedly stealing over $1 million from the government by pretending to be her deceased aunt for over 25 years, prosecutors said.

Janis Miller, 77, of South Orange, was charged by indictment with one count of wire fraud, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.

Miller’s aunt passed away in 1998, according to court documents. The Social Security Administration (SSA) was not aware and the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) paid nearly $1 million in retirement and survivor benefits to the bank account of Miller’s deceased aunt, prosecutor said.

Miller allegedly unlawfully disbursed the embezzled funds through debit card, cash withdrawals, and forged checks made out to a company she controlled, according to court documents.

In 2022, Miller allegedly  impersonated her deceased aunt  and talked with an SSA employee, and provided her aunt’s approximate birthdate.

OPM and SSA discovered the fraud and discontinued the benefits in 2023, nearly 25 years later.

The count of wire fraud is punishable by a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of the greatest of either $250,000 or twice the pecuniary gain or loss caused by the offense, whichever is greatest.