S. Lane Tucker, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney's Office District of Alaska
Ellis Kingsep, a 77-year-old Canadian national residing in the United States, has been sentenced to two and a half years in prison for defrauding the Social Security Administration (SSA) of over $420,000. The fraud spanned nearly three decades. Kingsep was also ordered to pay full restitution.
Court documents reveal that from approximately 1995 to 2023, Kingsep orchestrated a scheme to receive benefits intended for his mother by redirecting them into accounts he controlled. His mother, presumed deceased, would now be 103 years old.
The scheme involved mail forwarding requests and private postal mailbox accounts in California, Vancouver, British Columbia, and Alaska. In 2013, the SSA received a change of address notice purportedly signed by Kingsep’s mother requesting her address be changed to Fairbanks. This address was linked to a mail forwarding service used by Kingsep.
Since 1989, SSA benefits were deposited directly into an account held jointly by Kingsep and his mother. Surveillance footage showed him withdrawing cash from this account regularly until the SSA halted payments in 2023 after uncovering the fraud.
Following his arrest in July 2024, authorities found materials related to creating fake identities at a storage unit rented by Kingsep. He pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud on December 10, 2024.
During sentencing, U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman stated: “Mr. Kingsep manipulated a critical assistance program by fraudulently collecting his mother’s social security benefits for nearly three decades.” Michelle L. Anderson from the SSA OIG added: “This sentence holds him accountable for deliberately concealing his existence.”
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Bradley with investigations conducted by the SSA OIG.
In related developments over six months prior to this sentencing, four other individuals were charged with Social Security fraud:
- Barbara Coleman of Cheney is accused of converting over $28,000 intended for her deceased uncle.
- Bernadette Kibby of Sitka allegedly misused over $107,000 meant for her late father.
- Sarah Korn of Anchorage faces charges related to stealing more than $50,000 from her stepfather.
- Aleksander Savelieff of Nikolaevsk is indicted for converting over $44,000 intended for his deceased mother.
These cases are under investigation by the SSA OIG and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mac Caille Petursson.
An indictment remains an allegation until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in court.
