DOJ indicts 17 suspects in $1.3 million Social Security fraud scheme, including freezer-case woman

The Justice Department unveiled a surge operation by its newly created National Fraud Enforcement Division, leading to 17 fraud charges that together involve more than $1.3 million taken from Social Security programs. The most notorious defendant, Eva Bratcher of Chicago, is accused of preserving her mother’s corpse in a deep freezer for two years and assuming her identity to siphon $21,402 in benefits, as well as exploiting an alternate Social Security number to obtain additional SNAP assistance.

Bratcher, previously sentenced to 18 months for concealing a death and possessing a fake ID, now faces three new federal counts that could carry up to ten years in prison. Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald warned that each stolen dollar reduces resources for seniors’ medication, meals, and housing. Social Security Commissioner Frank Bisignano said the agency is working closely with the DOJ to aggressively pursue fraud and safeguard public trust.