U.S. Department of Justice
United States Attorney
District of New Hampshire
Federal Building
53 Pleasant Street, 4th Floor
Concord, New Hampshire 03301
603/225-1552
| MEDIA RELEASE For Immediate Release October 1, 2008 |
Thomas P. Colantuono United States Attorney Mark S. Zuckerman Assistant U.S. Attorney (603) 225-1552 |
DERRY WOMAN SENTENCED FOR MAKING FALSE
STATEMENT TO SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
CONCORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE – United States Attorney Tom Colantuono reports that today, Ligia Veda of Derry, New Hampshire, was sentenced to three years of probation for making a materially false statement to the Social Security Administration in connection with a claim for disability benefits.
On or about July 19, 2006, Veda, who was acting on behalf of her husband as a representative payee, filed a document with the Social Security Administration requesting an adjustment of the monthly installment payments due to the Social Security Administration to reimburse an overpayment of disabilities benefits paid to Veda’s husband. On the form, Veda knowingly falsely represented that the couple’s monthly rent or mortgage expenses were $1,200. Veda and her husband actually had no monthly rent or mortgage expense. Relying, in part, on Veda’s false statement, the Social Security Administration substantially lowered the couple’s monthly installment payments and extended the term of the repayment period.
In September, 2007, a federal Grand Jury indicted Veda for making a materially false statement to the Social Security Administration. On May 30, 2008, Veda pleaded guilty to that charge. Today in United States District Court in Concord, New Hampshire, the court sentenced Veda to serve a three year period of probation under the supervision of the United States Probation Office.
This case was investigated by the Office of the Inspector General of the Social Security Administration and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark S. Zuckerman.