A New Jersey woman was indicted Thursday on charges she collected over $1 million intended for her deceased aunt over a period of 25 years, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Janis Miller, 77, of South Orange, was charged with one count of fraud for collecting payments from the Social Security Administration and U.S. Office of Personnel Management, authorities said.
Beginning in 1998 after her aunt died, prosecutors said Miller continued collecting monthly payments from both federal agencies intended for her aunt until 2023 when federal authorities discovered the fraud.
Miller is accused in the indictment of collecting over $313,000 from the Social Security Administration and over $697,000 in retirement benefits from the Office of Personnel Management, which distributes survivor benefits to spouses of retired federal employees.
Authorities said Miller withdrew money from her aunt’s accounts using debit cards and forged checks made out to a company Miller controlled. She impersonated her aunt on a phone call with an SSA employee in 2022 to continue the fraud before investigators ended payments in 2023, authorities said.
A federal public defender representing Miller did not immediately return a request for comment Thursday evening.
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Matthew Enuco may be reached at Menuco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Matt on X.
