DA: Freeport Woman Stole Identities from Disabled, Deceased People in 31 States

A Freeport woman faces charges after she stole hundreds of identities from people in 31 states, the Nassau County District Attorney’s office confirmed Friday.

Seerojnie Ram, 47, was arraigned Thursday before Judge James Darcy on multiple felony charges, including grand larceny, identity theft, and forgery, the DA said. Ram could face up to seven years in prison if convicted of the top charge, officials said.

“The evidence of identity theft and financial fraud uncovered in this case is staggering – and serves as a wake-up call for anyone who is not already aware of this widespread and growing sector of illegal activity,” Acting DA Madeline Singas said in a statement. “Identity theft schemes do not stop at Nassau’s borders, which makes my office’s partnership with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service all the more important as we fight to protect the public from the lasting damage these scams can inflict on victims.”

Over the past two years, Ram submitted 200 fraudulent personal income tax returns electronically and stole around 250 identities to do so, the DA said. Some of Ram’s victims were disabled or deceased, officials said. In doing so, Ram reportedly received thousands of dollars in tax refunds that weren’t hers.

Ram is also accused of submitting more than 50 applications for debit and credit cards with fake identities linked to bank accounts, officials said. Investigators found notebooks that contained pages of information on people who had died and had information on more than 500 other people in her possession taken from employee and customer lists from several companies, the DA said.

Despite filing for bankruptcy and receiving Medicaid benefits, Ram filters thousands through her accounts and used money for trips to Atlantic City, cruises, and home furnishings, officials said.

Ram was charged with second-degree attempted grand larceny, two counts of third-degree grand larceny, 13 counts of second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument, first-degree identity theft, two counts of first-degree scheme to defraud, first-degree offering a false instrument for filing, and two counts of first-degree falsifying business records. She is due back in court on Monday.

Photo via NCDA

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