July 27, 2006

DA and SSA Work Together to Arrest 2 for Fraud

Over $90k stolen from Social Security and pension benefits

MINEOLA, NY – Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice announced today that charges have been filed against two defendants accused of stealing more than $90,000 from the United States Social Security Administration and a life annuity pension.

Linda Meyeroff-Sakkatos, 37, has been charged with two counts of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a Class D felony.  Ingrid Chase, 52, has been charged with Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a Class D felony.

The charges stem from the defendants’ neglecting to inform the Social Security Administration and the Diocese of Rockville Centre, the administrator for a private life annuity pension of Nancy Meyeroff, that their mothers had passed away and should no longer be collecting benefits.

Ms. Meyeroff-Sakkatos’ mother, Nancy Meyeroff, passed away on July 2, 1998.  At the time of her death, she was receiving Social Security benefits and a pension from the Diocese of Rockville Centre.  Both monthly payments were directly deposited into her bank account, which was held jointly with her daughter, the defendant, Linda Meyeroff-Sakkatos.  Between the months of August 1998 to December 2004 Ms. Meyeroff-Sakkatos received $68,904 in Social Security Benefits to which she was not entitled.  The Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General began an investigation into Ms. Meyeroff-Sakkatos following an anonymous telephone call to the Social Security Administration regarding the possibility of theft by the defendant.  Following an initial investigation, the Social Security Administration referred the case to the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office.  A joint investigation and audit of Ms. Meyeroff-Sakkatos’ bank account also uncovered that the defendant received $21,055 in pension payments from August 1998 to August 2005 to which she was not entitled.

Ms. Chase’s mother, Agnes Kelly, passed away on January 4, 2000.  Ms. Kelly was receiving Social Security benefits at the time of her death, which was directly deposited into her bank account.  This bank account was a joint account Ms. Kelly had with her daughter, Ms. Chase.  Between January 2000 and May 2006, it is alleged that the defendant received $30,355 in Social Security benefits to which she was not entitled.  The case was then referred to the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office.

Both defendants surrendered to the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office this morning.  They will be arraigned today in First District Court, Hempstead.  Assistant District Attorney Stephani Meister will be handling the case against Ms. Meyeroff-Sakkatos for the District Attorney’s Office.  Assistant District Attorney Christine Burke will be handling the case against Ms. Chase for the District Attorney’s Office.  Both ADAs work in the Government and Consumer Frauds Bureau of the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office.
The Nassau County District Attorney’s Office would like to thank Edward J. Ryan, the Special Agent in charge of the Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General, and his entire staff for their involvement in these investigations.

The charges are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Name: Linda Meyeroff-Sakkatos
Age: 37
Address: 243 8th Street Bethpage, NY
Charges: Grand Larceny 3° (two counts)

Name: Ingrid Chase
Age: 52
Address: 987 Ardmore Road Baldwin, NY
Charges: Grand Larceny 3°