South Dakota Pair Indicted in Pierre for Allegedly Concealing a Beneficiary's Death to Keep Collecting His Social Security Disability Payments
Pierre, South Dakota — Two residents of Pierre, the state capital of South Dakota, have been indicted by a federal grand jury. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of South Dakota announced that Beth Miley, also known as Beth French, 51, and Jason Miley, also known as Jake Miley, 54, are charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and bank fraud. Beth Miley is also charged with theft of government funds and Social Security fraud.
The indictment alleges that Beth Miley concealed from the Social Security Administration (SSA) the February 5, 2023, death of her husband, an SSA Title II Disability Insurance beneficiary, so that she could continue to collect her deceased husband's monthly SSA disability payments.
The indictment further alleges that between January 2024 and May 2026, Beth Miley and Jason Miley conspired to defraud the United States by fraudulently making monthly bank withdrawals of SSA disability payments from a bank account that was not held or owned by either of them.
Both defendants appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on October 15, 2026, and pleaded not guilty to the charges. They were released on bond pending trial, and a trial date has been set for December 15, 2026.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 30 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
"Our federal partners and our prosecutors are working to uncover fraud against the government and the American taxpayer wherever it exists, and we are charging those cases as expeditiously as we can," said U.S. Attorney Ron Parsons. "Think twice before stealing from the government."
"The defendants are alleged to have concealed a beneficiary's death to continue receiving Social Security disability benefits," said Jacques Hansen, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Social Security Administration's Office of the Inspector General, Western CDI Division. "SSA OIG will continue investigating those who defraud Social Security programs to protect taxpayer funds and help ensure benefits are paid only to eligible beneficiaries."
The investigation is being conducted by the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, Cooperative Disability Investigation Unit. Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson is prosecuting the case. The charges are merely accusations, and Beth Miley and Jason Miley are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：美国社会保障署总部大楼（资料图）。Coolcaesar 摄，CC BY-SA 3.0，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / The headquarters of the U.S. Social Security Administration (file photo). Photo by Coolcaesar, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
