A Minnesota woman has fleeced taxpayers out of $360,000 by impersonating her dead mother for nearly a quarter century in one of the most brazen and long-running Social Security frauds ever exposed.
Key Takeaways
- 54-year-old Mavious Redmond pleaded guilty to impersonating her deceased mother for 25 years to collect Social Security benefits
- The southeast Minnesota resident fraudulently obtained approximately $360,000 in taxpayer funds since January 1999
- Redmond regularly visited Social Security offices and forged documents to maintain the elaborate charade
- She faces a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment and fines of up to twice the amount stolen
- Federal authorities emphasize this case highlights widespread fraud targeting government assistance programs
25-Year Impersonation Scheme Finally Exposed
Mavious Redmond, a 54-year-old southeast Minnesota resident, has pleaded guilty to operating one of the longest-running Social Security fraud schemes in recent memory. Beginning in January 1999 immediately following her mother’s death, Redmond embarked on an elaborate impersonation scheme that would continue undetected for a staggering 25 years. Court documents reveal that she systematically forged her deceased mother’s signature on numerous government forms and applications, creating a fraudulent paper trail that enabled her to collect benefits meant for retirees.
Prosecutors detailed how Redmond’s brazen scheme included in-person visits to Social Security Administration offices where she pretended to be her mother. As recently as June, she made two separate appearances at government offices, continuing the charade that had successfully diverted hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars into her own pockets. The fraud was particularly egregious given the financial strain already facing Social Security and other government assistance programs that millions of legitimate recipients depend upon.
Minnesota woman, age 54, posed as her mother, who had died in 1999. She didn't report the death to Social Security. Instead, she collected her dead mother's Social Security benefits.
Her youthful appearance at the counter when she showed up in June 2024 and the mother's birth…
— Constitutionally (@Consti2tionAlly) April 15, 2025
Authorities Crack Down on Program Fraud
In announcing the guilty plea, federal authorities emphasized that Redmond’s case represents just one example of widespread abuse targeting government assistance programs. The investigation highlights the vulnerability of Social Security to long-term fraud schemes that can go undetected for decades despite verification systems supposedly in place. Redmond entered her guilty plea to theft of government funds in U.S. District Court on April 9, culminating a federal investigation that finally uncovered the extensive deception.
“We are awash in federal programs fraud,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick. “Redmond stole well more than a quarter million dollars in taxpayer funds. She scammed social security for literal decades.”
The sheer duration of Redmond’s fraud scheme – spanning nearly 25 years – raises serious questions about the effectiveness of verification protocols within the Social Security Administration. While the agency typically employs various methods to confirm beneficiary identities and status, including death record matching, Redmond somehow managed to circumvent these safeguards for a quarter century. The case demonstrates how determined fraudsters can exploit systemic weaknesses through a combination of forgery, impersonation, and persistent deception.
Severe Penalties Await Sentencing
According to legal experts, Redmond faces potentially severe consequences for her actions. The maximum penalty for theft of government funds includes up to 10 years imprisonment along with financial penalties that could amount to twice the total sum she fraudulently obtained – potentially exceeding $700,000. The sentencing will likely reflect both the financial damage to taxpayers and the extraordinary duration of the deception, setting an important precedent for similar cases nationwide.
President Trump’s administration implemented more rigorous verification procedures for federal benefit programs, but this case demonstrates that systematic fraud can still persist and evade detection for decades. The Social Security Administration has increasingly employed data analytics and cross-referencing of government records to identify potential fraud, but resource limitations and the sheer volume of beneficiaries create challenges for comprehensive verification. Taxpayers ultimately bear the financial burden of such schemes through depleted program funds.
