A former employee of Tufts Health Plan pleaded guilty today to stealing personal identifying information belonging to hundreds of customers. The stolen data included names, dates of birth, and Social Security numbers, primarily of customers over the age of 65.
Emeline Lubin, 27, pleaded guilty to the unlawful disclosure of Social Security numbers. U.S. District Judge George A. O’Toole, Jr., scheduled sentencing for Nov. 13, 2014.
In 2010, Lubin began working at Tufts Health Plan in Watertown. During her employment, Lubin gave lists of customers’ personal identification information to a Florida man who was involved with her brother in a scheme to steal Social Security benefits and to collect fraudulent income tax refunds by using stolen identities to file false income tax returns. At today’s plea hearing, the prosecutor stated that Lubin stole and disclosed the personal data of over 8,700 customers. Earlier this year, Sniders Jean-Jacques and Melvin Lubin pleaded guilty to the theft of public money in U.S. District Court in Worcester.
The charging statute provides a sentence of no greater than five years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater, and restitution. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz; Scott Antolik, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division; Phillip Coyne, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General, Office of Investigations; and William P. Offord, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston, made the announcement today. The case is being prosecuted by Timothy Landry of Ortiz’s Major Crimes Unit.
Members of the public who have questions, concerns or information regarding this case should email [email protected].