FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
SUSAN YOLANDA SNYDER PLEADS GUILTY IN U.S. FEDERAL COURT
Bill Mercer, United States Attorney for the District of Montana, announced today that during a federal court session in Billings on October 31, 2007, before U.S. District Judge Richard F. Cebull, SUSAN YOLANDA SNYDER, a 47-year-old resident of Billings, pled guilty to false representation of a social security number. Sentencing is set for February 8, 2008. She is currently released on special conditions.
In an Offer of Proof filed by the United States, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:
On April 1, 2003, in Billings, SNYDER filled out employment forms using Social Security number ***-**-1857 [full number withheld to prevent future misuse].
Documentation would have shown that SNYDER had utilized the same Social Security number at various other times when applying for employment.
A Social Security Administration investigator would have testified and provided evidence establishing that Social Security number ***-**-1857 is a valid number which was assigned to a person now deceased.
Further testimony and documentation would have established that Social Security number ***-**-1857 was never assigned to SNYDER and that she has her own Social Security number (***-**-0998) assigned to her.
SNYDER faces possible penalties of 5 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and 3 years supervised release.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael S. Lahr prosecuted the case for the United States.
The investigation was conducted by the Office of the Inspector General for the Social Security Administration.
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A copy of the Offer of Proof can be obtained by contacting Sally Frank at (406) 247-4638.
