FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, May 05, 2008
JANETTE L. HARMSEN 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 Missoula on May 6, 2008, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah C. Lynch, JANETTE L. HARMSEN, a 55-year-old resident of Missoula, pled guilty to making false statements to obtain federal benefits. Sentencing is set for September 25, 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:
Beginning in 2004, HARMSEN acted as a representative payee on behalf of her daughter, who received Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA). As part of the representative payee reporting requirement, HARMSEN was required to report changes in the custody or living arrangements of her daughter.
On May 1, 2004, HARMSEN reported to SSA that her daughter was living with her in Missoula.
In October or November of 2004, HARMSEN'S daughter moved to Polson to live with her father (HARMSEN'S ex-husband).
On November 4, 2005, HARMSEN falsely reported to SSA that her daughter had lived with her in Missoula between July 1, 2004, and June 30, 2005.
On January 19, 2007, HARMSEN again falsely reported to the SSA that her daughter was residing with her in Missoula and that there was no change in her daughter's living arrangements from her original filing in 2004.
In an interview with the investigating agent, HARMSEN admitted to filing false reports with the SSA about her daughter's custody and living arrangements. HARMSEN also admitted that the money she received from SSA for the care and benefit of her daughter was not used for that purpose.
As a result of the false statements, SSA paid HARMSEN approximately $15,935 that she was not entitled to receive. On July 23, 2007, after being confronted with the evidence in this case, HARMSEN repaid SSA in the amount of $15,935.
HARMSEN faces possible penalties of 5 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and 3 years supervised release.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Leif M. Johnson prosecuted the case for the United States.
The investigation was conducted by the Inspector General's Office 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.
