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State Takes Money From Grandma’s Bank Account After Calif. Inmate Gives False Personal Information

Sep. 11, 2012 9:21pm

Over $700 dollars owed to the state of California by a convicted felon was instead taken from a grandmother’s savings account by state workers who failed to double-check prison paperwork, CBS Sacramento reports.

How did that happen?

In California, when a felon goes off to serve his time, he can give any name, date of birth, or Social Security number he wants (because what could possibly go wrong?). One felon, Jermain Kirk, gave a faulty Social Security number. So, instead of deducting the $721 dollars owed to the Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board from his account, it was taken out of Jeanne Miller’s account.

“I just figured it was something I owed, and I was going to pay it,” said Miller.

Miller’s son Eric Hemminger decided to get to the bottom of the filing error.

“It was from the people who collect taxes, so she thought maybe it was a late fee for taxes and we hadn’t filed on time,” said Hemminger.

“I contacted the bank and they said there’s nothing they can do. It was a court order and they have to abide by it and that we’d have to talk to the state,” he added.

Is there really no mechanism in place that double-check information given by convicted felons in prison?

Apparently not.

“[C]laims board officials say they have no ability to double check Social Security numbers provided by inmates. The Franchise Tax Board says it can, but they quickly added this wasn’t their fault. They refused to go on camera answering how this happened,” CBS Sacremento reports.

If you think that’s ridiculous get ready for this one: It could take up to 16 weeks for the state to refund Miller her $721 dollars.

“I was told, ‘Hey, you’re not special. There’s a lot of people before you and after you that this same thing has happened to,’” said Hemminger.

Of course, once local media got involved, state officials became a little more sympathetic.

“Still unbelievable that it would happen,” said Miller.

“The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation tells us it’s aware prisoners are giving inaccurate information. They’re now talking about validating Social Security numbers right when the felon is locked up,” the report adds.

Jon Coupal, president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, says there needs to be more oversight.

“They should be double-checking,” said Coupal. “We have an innocent victim here who’s having money taken out of her account illegally and inappropriately.”

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Comments (32)

  • The0bserver
    Posted on September 12, 2012 at 11:38pm

    “I was told, ‘Hey, you’re not special. There’s a lot of people before you and after you that this same thing has happened to,’” said Hemminger.

    Anyone else thinking of Obamacare?

    Report this comment

    The0bserver  
  • turbo
    Posted on September 12, 2012 at 5:41pm

    I would like to suggest public whippings for this bunch. The higher up you are the more lashes you get. Should be a real attention getter and motivator. Just saying…
    http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/About_CDCR/Executive_Staff.html

    Report this comment

    turbo  
  • OniKaze
    Posted on September 12, 2012 at 10:54am

    I would say the state of Cali. should refund the money IMMEDIATELY, but since the state is so broke, they don’t even HAVE $700…

    If I was, Granny (and if Granny lives in another state) sue the state of Cali. for the money taken, and for an additional $700 for every day you don’t get your money back…. That’s $78,000 if it takes 16 weeks…

    I don’t like frivolous lawsuits, but I like this one based on the principal of people (government) needs to take responsibility for its own actions..

    Report this comment

    OniKaze  
  • EqualJustice
    Posted on September 12, 2012 at 8:47am

    MUST NOT ask for papers! HAHAHA This is so insane that I don’t even recognize my country any longer? It’s just plain sick and imagine the “voter fraud” that supposedly does NOT exist? LORD HELP US.

    Report this comment

    EqualJustice  
    • Spirit 72
      Posted on September 12, 2012 at 9:26am

      The prisoner was only exercising his rights of free speech. How dare the Blaze imply that it is wrong to steal from an old granny.

      (Lord have mercy on us and help your faithful remnant… we have replaced You with big government crony capitalism which is turning into cannibalism !!)

      Report this comment

      Spirit 72  
  • TwoLazy
    Posted on September 12, 2012 at 7:21am

    I think the answer to this kind of problem is simply more and bigger government. Instead of 30 or 40 thousand state workers screwing up, you could have 60 or 70 thousand workers screwing up. If it take 30 seconds to take the money and 16 weeks to get it back, just think how long it could take going through twice as many hands … wonderful, wonderful government … and the great thing is that you can’t fire these screwups because of the unions.

    Lord its good to be an American … I wonder what it feels like to be a Kalifonian?

    Report this comment

    TwoLazy  
    • 1956
      Posted on September 12, 2012 at 7:39am

      Think about how great this will be when Obama & his admin can, by a stroke of his pen, make it legal to take money out of your accounts at whim if they think you have too much. Bye bye savings.

      Report this comment

      1956  
  • Moozmom
    Posted on September 12, 2012 at 4:14am

    There is a free social security number check service available online. It is offered through one of the government websites and employers use it all the time. Somebody out there in employer land is very lazy!

    Report this comment

    Moozmom  
  • repairsea
    Posted on September 12, 2012 at 12:20am

    The union says that government workers have a right to be incompetent.

    Report this comment

    repairsea  
  • HorseCrazy
    Posted on September 12, 2012 at 12:10am

    nothing to see here folks, just more robbery from the government who is not your friend. my family choses not to put a heck of a lot of money in the bank. guess what stuff like this happens and you get to spend the time and money trying to fix their mistakes.

    Report this comment

    HorseCrazy  
  • dirtydog1776
    Posted on September 11, 2012 at 10:37pm

    Sorry, Silly Senior…….protection of rights and property is just for wrong doers……imagine this being said in a silly Kix’s rabbit voice.

    Report this comment

    dirtydog1776  
    • pdw
      Posted on September 11, 2012 at 11:36pm

      And this is the government that is suppose to protects us from thieves?

      Report this comment

      pdw  
  • dmerwin
    Posted on September 11, 2012 at 10:20pm

    “[C]laims board officials say they have no ability to double check Social Security numbers provided by inmates.”
    Find one.

    Report this comment

    dmerwin  
    • squirefld
      Posted on September 11, 2012 at 11:39pm

      I spent 15 years programming and selling police computer software, for their internal record keeping. This is BS. In an actual arrest or summons the SSN is always contained in the arrest record and follows the suspect, found guilty or not, through the entire process.

      Report this comment

      squirefld  
  • love the kids
    Posted on September 11, 2012 at 10:09pm

    Just say you are from Conn. and give them Obummers SS number, after all, he borrowed it from someone.

    Report this comment

    love the kids  
  • duncan1622
    Posted on September 11, 2012 at 10:09pm

    Another example of the government being to big, having their hands in every pot instead of verifying Social Security numbers given to them by a convicted felon. The IRS will be that much worse when obamacare kicks in. There’s no other country to run to folks, this is it. America is where we have to make our stand against big government.

    Report this comment

    duncan1622  
  • jfwootten
    Posted on September 11, 2012 at 10:01pm

    Add fraud to the charges against the SOB.

    Report this comment

    jfwootten  
  • watersRpeople
    Posted on September 11, 2012 at 9:43pm

    Oooo, more asteroid justification.

    Report this comment

    watersRpeople  
  • Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
    Posted on September 11, 2012 at 9:43pm

    She didn’t earn that money, so they didn’t really steal anything. They are just taking it from her and giving it to victoms. I don’t see the problem. She wasn’t using that money anyway, what a leech, won’t give what she has to criminal victoms. Sheesh, if you are over 70, you aren’t producing for society, just give the Govt your money, you don’t need it, they will give you food stamps, and pain pills……………haven’t you died yet Granny, well, what are you waiting for?

    Barrack Obama supports this message, and you didn’t earn that, it’s mine, gimmee now.

    Report this comment

    Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra  
  • commonsenseguy
    Posted on September 11, 2012 at 9:39pm

    who needs to verify any convicted felons social security numbers, i mean come on obama,van jones and his left army says it is racist to show an i d to vote,so what is the big deal who cares if a little old lady gets ripped off she has the money and besides the convicts are being unjustly convicted, obama and van jones love these people because they can vote as many times has the want and they need them for their army when obama is reelected and he starts to put is plan of a dictator take over in motion, the little old lady and apparently a lot of other people should just shut up and let the criminals have the money and if they don’t they are racist, this is a big crock of communist crap and what is sad is this has been going on for a long time and no one tried to stop it and you can bet this scam may be going on in a lot of states so people better be watching their checking and savings accounts you just may be helping pay for criminals crimes.

    Report this comment

    commonsenseguy  
  • denkat56
    Posted on September 11, 2012 at 9:38pm

    how did a con get to use a computer with the internet. how did a con get somebody elses ssn. where is the people to check against this. how did the con get away with this, isnt this fraud, and theft, is the con going back to trial to face the new charges.

    Report this comment

    denkat56  
  • RJJinGadsden
    Posted on September 11, 2012 at 9:37pm

    ““I was told, ‘Hey, you’re not special. There’s a lot of people before you and after you that this same thing has happened to,’” said Hemminger.”
    If this happens this often, you’d think that somebody would dislodge their head from the their fourth point of contact and fix the problem. Would have to beat all of the extra work, which I’m sure costs more money…..I think that I hit the nail on the head. Job security.

    Report this comment

    RJJinGadsden  
  • sooner12
    Posted on September 11, 2012 at 9:33pm

    It’s California…..so what else is new.

    Report this comment

    sooner12  
  • kaydeebeau
    Posted on September 11, 2012 at 9:31pm

    Voter Fraud – nahhhh – nothing to see here……

    Report this comment

    kaydeebeau  
    • commonsenseguy
      Posted on September 11, 2012 at 9:41pm

      i just wonder how many of those employees have taken money and never gave to the victims,apparently it was so easy and no one was minding the store.

      Report this comment

      commonsenseguy  
    • CatB
      Posted on September 11, 2012 at 10:02pm

      Bank robbery by government … move along.

      Report this comment

      CatB  

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