October 21, 2014

Francisco Javier Pleads Guilty to Theft and Forgery of Social Security Benefits

ALICIA A.G. LIMTIACO, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, announced that FRANCISCO A. JAVIER, age 50, of Waianae (Honolulu County), Hawaii, pled guilty on October 17, 2014, in the U.S. District Court, District of Hawaii, to one count of Theft of Government Money and one count of Forging Endorsements on Treasury Checks. For each count, the maximum sentence under the statute is 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. JAVIER had been previously charged on April 30, 2014 by a federal grand jury in the District of Guam with multiple counts of the above referenced offenses. JAVIER self-surrendered May 2, 2014 at the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) Honolulu Division field office. Sentencing for JAVIER in the District of Hawaii is scheduled for February 12, 2015.

According to court documents, JAVIER’s mother died in April 2002, but JAVIER, from June 2002 to May 2010, received Social Security retirement insurance and other related benefits intended for his mother. The Social Security Administration, an agency of the United States, was unaware of the beneficiary’s death and continued to mail U.S. Treasury checks to the beneficiary at a post office box address in Guam. JAVIER forged his mother’s signature and fraudulently endorsed the checks, cashed them and received payments totaling $80,343.

Alicia A.G. Limtiaco stated “the United States Attorney’s Office is committed to working with its law enforcement partners to help maintain the integrity of the Social Security Program for seniors and other beneficiaries who have rightfully earned these benefits.” This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General and the FBI Guam Resident Agency. The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Marivic David.