2 Nassau Residents Indicted For $200K Social Security Fraud: Nassau DA

MINEOLA, NY — Two Nassau County residents were indicted this week on separate incidents to defraud the Social Security Administration out of more than $200,000 in disability and retirement benefits, prosecutors announced.

Markus Effinger, 55, of Uniondale, was arraigned on one count of second-degree grand larceny. Gloria Sevilla, 58, of Valley Stream, was also arraigned on one count of second-degree grand larceny.

"Millions of people rely on Social Security disability and retirement benefits every day to make ends meet," said Nassau County DA Anne Donnelly. "These defendants allegedly took advantage of a system designed to protect the most vulnerable from financial stress and stole tens of thousands of dollars of benefits to which they were not entitled. We must protect these vital services for the people who need them most."

According to the charges and investigation, in May 2012 Markus Effinger began collecting Supplemental Security Income (“SSI”) for “retinal detachment” and other vision issues.

The investigation revealed that Effinger and his fiancée were 50% managing members of a company called Dash Xpress as well as drivers for the company, which had submitted documents to the New York State Department of Health (“DOH”) for enrollment as a Medicaid transportation provider, the DA's office said.

DOH and bank records revealed that DOH paid Dash Xpress more than $2.2 million since 2015. Effinger never reported this work activity, or the income being derived from the business.

Between January 1, 2015, and June 24, 2022, Effinger allegedly fraudulently received approximately more than $72,000 in Social Security Disability benefits to which he was not entitled, Donnelly said.

Effinger pleaded not guilty and was released on his own recognizance. He is due back in court on Oct. 18.

In a separate SSA fraud case, according to the charges and investigation, Obdulia Renkowski received monthly Social Security retirement benefits since 1981.

Beginning in 2013, the payments were made through direct deposit into Renkowski’s bank account.

An investigation by SSA revealed that since 2019, SSA mailed multiple correspondence to Renkowski’s address in Valley Stream attempting to verify information regarding her benefits and did not receive a response.

NCDA investigators confirmed that Renkowski had died in January 2015 at her home in Valley Stream, however, monthly benefits continued to be deposited into the bank account, which was jointly controlled by Renkowski and defendant Gloria Sevilla, the significant other of Renkowski’s son.

Sevilla allegedly failed to report Renkowski’s death to SSA, and between her death in 2015 and October 3, 2022, Sevilla allegedly wrongfully received approximately over $137,000 of Renkowski’s Social Security benefits to which she was not entitled, prosecutors said.

Sevilla allegedly made withdrawals from the bank account during this time for debit card charges at Home Depot, Aboff Paints, and at local lumber yards.

Sevilla pleaded not guilty and was released on her own recognizance.