A Minnesota woman continued a shocking 25-year fraud scheme by repeatedly visiting Social Security offices pretending to be her dead mother—stealing $360,000 before finally getting caught.
At a Glance
- Mavious Redmond, 54, pleaded guilty to a 25-year Social Security fraud scheme that began in January 1999
- She stole approximately $360,000 by impersonating her deceased mother and forging her signature on benefit applications
- Redmond visited Social Security offices in person multiple times, maintaining the fraud for over two decades
- She faces up to 10 years imprisonment and potential fines of up to twice the amount stolen
Decades of Deception
Mavious Redmond, a 54-year-old woman from southeast Minnesota, has admitted to an elaborate fraud scheme that persisted for a quarter century. After her mother’s death in January 1999, Redmond began submitting falsified applications for Social Security benefits, forging her mother’s signature to continue receiving payments. The brazen scheme continued uninterrupted for 25 years, resulting in the theft of approximately $360,000 in taxpayer funds meant to support eligible retirees and their families.
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
Federal investigators finally caught Redmond after she made two visits to a Social Security Administration office in June, where she impersonated her deceased mother. Court records show she repeatedly completed applications using her mother’s personal information, maintaining the charade through in-person visits where she pretended to be her mother. The Social Security Administration, which distributes billions in benefits annually, relies heavily on truthful reporting, making Redmond’s case particularly egregious.
Federal Prosecutors Respond
Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick highlighted the severity of the case and the broader problem it represents. “We are awash in federal programs fraud,” said Kirkpatrick. The prosecutor emphasized the calculated nature of Redmond’s actions, which diverted funds intended for legitimate beneficiaries to her own pockets for decades. The case illustrates how vulnerable government assistance programs can be vulnerable to fraudsters who exploit the system’s reliance on honest reporting.
“Redmond stole well more than a quarter million dollars in taxpayer funds. She scammed social security for literal decades,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick.
Redmond entered her guilty plea to theft of government funds in U.S. District Court on April 9. The conviction carries serious potential consequences, with a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment and a fine of up to twice the amount stolen. Federal sentencing guidelines will ultimately determine the specific punishment Redmond receives, though the substantial financial damage and extraordinary duration of the fraud will likely influence the court’s decision.
Growing Trend of Benefits Fraud
Redmond’s case is far from isolated, representing part of a concerning pattern of fraud targeting government assistance programs. The Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General regularly investigates thousands of allegations of fraud annually. These investigations aim to protect the integrity of a system that millions of Americans depend on for retirement security and disability benefits. When individuals like Redmond successfully defraud the system for extended periods, it raises serious questions about safeguards and verification processes.
President Trump’s administration had significantly ramped up efforts to combat waste, fraud, and abuse in federal programs, including Social Security. These initiatives focused on implementing stronger verification procedures and leveraging technology to detect suspicious patterns. Cases like Redmond’s demonstrate the ongoing challenges in protecting taxpayer funds from determined fraudsters who exploit loopholes and verification weaknesses in systems designed to help the truly eligible.
