Social Security worker accused of stealing thousands from beneficiaries

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A Social Security Administration employee in Charlotte is accused of using his job to steal tens of thousands of dollars.

Investigators said Oliver Montgomery changed people's personal information, falsified paperwork, and even paid a friend thousands of dollars to help with the scheme.

Social Security special agents said Montgomery “abused his position” as a service representative with SSA. They said he meddled with a beneficiary's account -- a man who went to prison – and changed his release date on paperwork in order to send $27,000 to himself.

Investigators said Montgomery used another beneficiary's personal identity information to divert more than $12,000 away from her to himself. They said Montgomery made false and misleading entries on paperwork, crafted fraudulent documents, and even paid a high school friend $2,000 to help him retrieve some of the money.

[READ: Criminal Complaint Against Oliver Montgomery]

Federal agents said Montgomery's ex-girlfriend exposed him.

They said she showed them a text he allegedly sent her that showed a picture of him at the Social Security office with what looked like a large stack of bills.

Investigators said Montgomery's ex-girlfriend also gave them a letter he left with her that mentioned the $12,000 that was supposed to go to one of those beneficiaries.

Montgomery is charged with theft of government funds and aggravated identity theft.

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