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Social Security fraud cases progress

ESCANABA — A Wilson woman — accused of embezzling federal and tribal funds from her disabled son — was recently bound over from Delta County District Court to circuit court where she may make a plea or go to trial.

Sharon Frances Philemon, 59, of W481 Casino Lane, Wilson, turned herself in to Escanaba Public Safety on Oct. 26 after a warrant was authorized for her arrest on one count of embezzlement from a vulnerable adult involving $1,000 to $20,000.

Philemon was among four individuals from Delta and Menominee counties and a former Wilson resident from downstate who were arrested in October in connection with alleged Social Security benefit fraud schemes.

The five cases represent more than $187,000 in fraud losses or misuse of benefits from the Social Security Administration Disability Insurance Program and the Supplemental Security Income program.

Philemon is accused of embezzling nearly $10,000 in Social Security benefits and more than $3,000 in tribal benefits from her son, a resident at a local nursing home, from July 1, 2015 to March 31, 2016, according to Escanaba Public Safety Det. Sgt. Tony LaPlant.

Maximum sentencing for embezzling $1,000 to $20,000 from a vulnerable adult is five years in prison and a $10,000 fine or three times the amount embezzled, whichever is greater.

Philemon was released from police custody after she posted a $500 personal recognizance bond. She is scheduled for a hearing in circuit court on Dec. 14 when she may set a date for a plea or a trial.

In addition to Philemon, the other three local Social Security fraud suspects are Douglas Harrison Buskirk, 38, of 515 S. 10th St., Escanaba, Cynthia Marie Ogren, 56, of 5387 18th Road, Escanaba, and Nicole Marie Gillis, 38, of 622 15th Ave., Norway.

Buskirk, Ogren and Gillis were each charged with false pretenses $1,000-$20,000, a five-year felony with a maximum fine of $10,000 or three times the amount of the value of the property involved.

Following their arrests, each posted a $500 personal recognizance bond and were released from police custody.

Buskirk, charged as a habitual offender, is accused of defrauding the Social Security Administration of $98,856 from Oct. 13, 2009 to Aug. 10, 2016 in Escanaba. He was recently bound over to circuit court where he is scheduled to make a plea on Dec. 16.

Ogren is alleged to have defrauded the Social Security Administration of $58,568 between Aug. 1, 2000 and April 1, 2015 in Escanaba. She is scheduled for a preliminary hearing in district court on Dec. 15.

Gillis was bound over Thursday to circuit court where a hearing date will be set. She allegedly defrauded the Social Security Administration of $9,009 from July 24, 2014 to Dec. 16, 2015 in Escanaba.

The fifth suspect arrested — Michael Paul Rhines, 36, of downstate Williamston, formerly of Wilson — was arrested on Oct. 21 in Ingham County on one count of false pretenses, $1,000 to $20,000 on a Delta County warrant.

Rhines is accused of defrauding the Social Security Administration of $11,032 between May 1, 2015 and Aug. 1, 2016 in Escanaba.

Rhines was released from police custody after posting a $1,000 personal recognizance bond. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing in district court in Escanaba on Dec. 22.

The above arrests were the result of a six-month multi-jurisdictional investigation by local, state and federal agencies.

Participating in the investigation were Escanaba Public Safety, Delta County Sheriff’s Department, Michigan State Police, the Delta County Prosecutors Office, Hannahville Tribal Police Department, Upper Peninsula Substance Enforcement Team, Federal Bureau of Investigation – Marquette Resident Agency, United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan – Marquette and Grand Rapids, Social Security Administration – Office of Inspector General’s Detroit Field Office, and Ingham County Sheriff’s Department.

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Jenny Lancour, (906) 786-2021, ext. 143, jlancour@dailypress.net

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