Texas Woman Sentenced for Her Part in Fake Death Scheme

U.S. Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Texas woman charged with conspiracy to commit mail fraud, false application for Social Security benefits, and failure to report an event affecting Social Security benefits was sentenced on July 25, 2011, by U.S. District Judge Lawrence L. Piersol. Rajmatee Kapadia, a/k/a Rajmatee Misir, age 41, was sentenced to 24 months of imprisonment; restitution, joint and several with Vij Misir, of $1,995,000 to two life insurance companies and $56,703 to the Social Security Administration; three years of supervised release; and a $100 special assessment.

Kapadia was indicted for conspiracy to commit mail fraud by a federal grand jury on September 15, 2009. On November 2, 2010, a superseding indictment was filed charging Kapadia with conspiracy to commit mail fraud, false application for Social Security benefits, and failure to report an event affecting Social Security benefits.

In October 2003, Rajmatee Kapadia and her then-husband, Vij Misir, faked Misir’s death during a family trip to Malaysia. After staging Misir’s death, Kapadia made claims on three separate life insurance policies, demanding over $7,000,000. She sued two insurance companies when they failed to pay quickly, and she ultimately settled her case against the companies for payments totaling $1,995,000. Misir remained in hiding for just over five years. On December 11, 2008, he presented himself at the United States Embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia, and attempted to renew his passport.

For her role in the crime, Kapadia pled guilty on April 18, 2011, to conspiracy to commit mail fraud. The remaining two charges were dismissed by the government as part of the plea agreement.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Koliner prosecuted the case.

Kapadia will be allowed to self-surrender to the institution designated by the Bureau of Prisons no later than August 22, 2011.