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UNITED STATES ATTORNEY ALEXANDRIA NEWPORT NEWS NORFOLK RICHMOND CHUCK ROSENBERG UNITED STATES ATTORNEY |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
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May 10, 2007 |
Two Individuals Convicted in Scheme to Defraud the United States Government
(Richmond, VA) - Crist Dauberman, Jr., age 37, of Prince William County, Virginia, and his mother, Wendy Dauberman, age 58, of Spotsylvania County, Virginia, were convicted yesterday on fraud charges after a three-day jury trial before United States District Judge Henry Hudson. The two were convicted for their role in a scheme to fraudulently obtain Social Security and Department of Veterans Affairs payments for Crist Dauberman, Sr., who has been missing since approximately 1993. Crist Dauberman, Jr., and Wendy Dauberman were each convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit theft of government property, two counts of theft of government property, three counts of making false statements affecting Social Security Title II benefits, three counts of concealment and failure to disclose information affecting Social Security Title II benefits, and three counts of representative payee misuse. Craig Dauberman, age 33, was acquitted of one count of conspiracy to commit theft of government property and two counts of theft of government property. Sentencing is scheduled for August 17, 2007. Crist Dauberman, Jr. and Wendy Dauberman each face a maximum sentence of ten years in prison for each theft of government property count and five years for each of the other counts.
Chuck Rosenberg, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Jeffrey Hughes, Special Agent-In-Charge, Northeast Field Office, Criminal Investigations Division, Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General; Michael Robinson, Special Agent-In-Charge, Philadelphia Field Division, Office of the Inspector General, Social Security Administration; Sheriff Howard Smith of Spotsylvania County; Charles J. Cunningham, Special Agent-In-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Richmond Division; and Jane Murphy, Special Agent-In-Charge, United States Secret Service, Richmond Field Office, announced the conviction.
Crist Dauberman, Sr., was the husband of Wendy Dauberman and father of Crist Dauberman, Jr., and Craig Dauberman. Dauberman Sr. was also a recipient of disability insurance benefits from Social Security and disability compensation benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs, with total benefits of approximately $3,000 monthly. Evidence at trial established that in or about October 1993, Crist Dauberman, Sr., disappeared and was no longer living at the family home. Despite his disappearance, the defendants continued to receive and cash for their own use the monthly Social Security and Veterans Affairs checks intended for Crist Dauberman, Sr. As a result of the fraud, there was a total loss to the Department of Veterans Affairs of $259,795 and to the Social Security Administration of $106,639.
The investigation into the disappearance of Crist Dauberman, Sr. is currently ongoing. Any individuals having information related to this case are urged to contact Detective Carter (540-507-7188) or Crime Analyst Melanie Bibens (540-507-7110) at the Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office.
This case was investigated by the Criminal Investigations Division of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General; Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General; Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office; Federal Bureau of Investigation; and, United States Secret Service. Assistant United States Attorney Sara E. Chase prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.