In yet another powerful example of the Trump Administration’s commitment to law and order — and to protecting the integrity of Social Security — the Department of Justice just announced a major victory in the fight against government fraud. A corrupt former Social Security Administration employee who stole over $75,000 from America’s most vulnerable citizens is finally being held accountable.
Lee Marvin Nichols, a now-disgraced SSA worker, was sentenced to two years in federal prison after admitting to a stunning, elaborate scheme in which he preyed on the dead and disabled. According to the DOJ, Nichols abused his government position to create fake Social Security accounts — even using the identity of a terminally ill man who had recently died — in order to steal taxpayer dollars meant for those in genuine need.
In a press release dated February 26, 2025, the DOJ laid out the disturbing details. Nichols “intentionally misused the identities of vulnerable individuals—including a man who originally applied for benefits after being diagnosed with a terminal illness.” Once the man passed away, Nichols moved in, filing fraudulent benefit claims and draining the funds through ATM withdrawals. To avoid detection, he disguised himself with balaclavas, sunglasses, and hats during his heists.
This wasn’t a one-time blunder. Nichols orchestrated a full-blown criminal enterprise, inventing fake profiles for nonexistent children and tying them to a deceased man and a disabled woman living in Mexico. He even arranged for stimulus checks from the COVID relief bill to be sent to these imaginary dependents.
Nichols’ greed didn’t stop there. When the heat turned up, he fled to Mexico in a luxury pickup truck — a vehicle that, had it remained in the U.S., could have been sold to help repay the victims of his fraud. His cowardly escape forced law enforcement to expend time and resources to bring him back to justice.
He initially pleaded guilty to the theft in October 2023 but skipped out on his February 2024 sentencing. After months on the run, he was returned to U.S. soil in September 2024 and finally accepted full responsibility in December.
U.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera didn’t hold back. Nichols received 18 months for the underlying theft and an additional six months for fleeing justice. His sentence totals two years behind bars, followed by three years of supervised release. In addition, he’s on the hook for more than $85,000 in restitution to both the Social Security Administration and the IRS.
Let’s be clear — this is precisely the kind of abuse President Trump vowed to stop. For years, career bureaucrats have used government positions to line their pockets, while hardworking Americans foot the bill. But now, under the Trump Administration’s watch, these swamp creatures are being rooted out and held to account.
This isn’t just a story of one criminal — it’s a warning to every fraudster still hiding in the system. Under President Trump’s leadership, there are no more safe havens for those who steal from the American people. Justice is coming.
