(DOJ USAO Eastern District release) — Roselyn Mims, 51, of Linda, pleaded guilty today to theft of government property, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Mims was a Certified Nurse Assistant and In-Home Support Services (IHSS) home healthcare provider in the State of California, and she provided IHSS care to an elderly woman who received monthly Social Security Administration (SSA) benefits. When the elderly woman passed away, her death was not reported to SSA and, as a result, SSA continued to direct deposit SSA benefits into her bank account.
Following the elderly woman’s death, Mims possessed her checkbook tied to the account that received SSA benefits. From August 2016 through August 2023, Mims used those stolen checks to make out checks to herself and others. In particular, Mims forged the elderly woman’s signature, either cashed or deposited the forged checks, and then gave the money to associates or family members or used the money to pay various bills, including rent, utilities, and medical bills. When Mims ran out of checks from the checkbook, she used the elderly woman’s bank account number and routing number to pay bills electronically. Mims only stopped her theft and conversion of the SSA benefits after being interviewed by law enforcement in August 2023.
Mims’ theft of government funds resulted in a total loss of $156,445 to SSA. She has agreed to pay this amount back in restitution.
This case is the product of an investigation by the SSA Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicole Moody and Denise N. Yasinow are prosecuting the case.
Mims is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez on Feb. 11, 2025. Mims faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
Updated October 22, 2024