Detroit woman convicted for stealing $91,000 in Social Security disability benefits

DETROIT — A Detroit woman was convicted Wednesday for stealing more than $90,000 in disability benefits from the Social Security Administration.

A federal jury convicted Ernestine Hogue, 73, after a two-day trial in Ann Arbor, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Michigan announced in a release.

Hogue made multiple false statements to SSA by posing under the name Ernestine Calhoun and using a second Social Security number she obtained under false pretenses, investigators reported.

She hid her employment from the government to embezzle money between June 2003 through November 2015, according to a felony information document filed with the court in 2017.

Hogue stole a total of $91,461,60 in government money she was not entitled to, according to the statement.

“This defendant worked (and lied about working) while receiving Social Security disability benefits—benefits meant for people who are unable to work,” U.S. Attorney Dawn Ison said in the release. “Our office stands ready to aggressively prosecute those who steal from taxpayers and programs designed to help those in need."

Wednesday's conviction marked Hogue's fourth federal federal conviction for fraud, officials reported.

A federal grand jury indicted Hogue in 1994 for defrauding an insurance company of $25,289,80 with a false death benefits claim on the life of her brother, according to documents the prosecution filed to prove Hogue's intent in her most recent case.

Another federal grand jury indicted Hogue in 1995 for defrauding unemployment benefits from the Michigan Employment Security Commission with her boyfriend and sister.

A third federal grand jury indicted Hogue in 1995 for defrauding a rental car company with her boyfriend by making fake claims.

Hogue used multiple fake names in both 1995 indictments, according to court documents.

Three of Hogue's attorneys withdrew from her most recent case, according to documents filed between 2022 and 2023. One of her attorneys, who ultimately withdrew from the case, submitted a notice of Hogue's intent to use a defense of insanity.

Based on available documents, it is unclear which listed attorney most recently represented Hogue at her conviction Wednesday. None of the attorneys listed as possibly representing her immediately responded to a request for comment Thursday.

Hogue will be sentenced in Ann Arbor on Nov. 19, according to a notice to appear filed Wednesday.