KC Reporter

A Kansas City, Missouri resident has been arrested following a federal grand jury indictment on charges of fraudulently obtaining COVID-19 related benefits. Tiffanie Foster, aged 48, faces two counts of wire fraud for allegedly securing pandemic funds through a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan and unemployment benefits by submitting falsified documents and making fraudulent claims.

At the time of these alleged activities, Foster was employed as a customer service representative with the Social Security Administration (SSA). The Pandemic Response Accountability Committee identified her among SSA employees whose information was used to apply for loans or benefits. Foster is accused of applying for unemployment benefits in Michigan while residing in Missouri and being fully employed. She reportedly received over $30,000 in unemployment benefits during 2020 and 2021.

In early 2021, Foster applied for a PPP loan for her business, submitting an altered tax form and bank statement showing an inflated balance. The $20,833 loan was forgiven by the Small Business Administration.

The indictment's charges are accusations requiring evidence to be presented to a federal trial jury to determine guilt or innocence. If convicted under federal statutes, Foster could face up to 20 years in federal prison without parole and three years of supervised release per count. Sentencing will follow a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda K. Hanson is prosecuting this case, which was investigated by the Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General and the Department of Labor’s Office of the Inspector General.