TOPEKA – (June 2, 2026) – Kansas Inspector General Steven D. Anderson today announced the sentencing of Tamera Ruth Powers, of Tonganoxie, under Title 18, U.S.C. Section 1343 – Wire Fraud. She was sentenced to 15 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised probation and ordered to pay restitution of $273,144.55 to Kansas Medicaid, $41,113.42 to Kansas SNAP/LIEAP, and $137,839.00 to Social Security. 

Powers devised and executed a scheme to defraud the United States and the State of Kansas by obtaining benefits through materially false statements, including receiving benefits under two separate identities. Powers used the stolen identity of a deceased relative that died in 1977 to obtain Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP), and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, as well as benefits under the Medicaid program. 

“Today's sentencing sends a strong message that schemes to defraud the Medicaid, SNAP, LIEAP, and Social Security Disability programs will not be tolerated,” stated Steven D. Anderson, Kansas Inspector General “The Office of Inspector General will continue to work cooperatively with our law enforcement partners to aid in the identification and prosecution of individuals engaged in these types of crimes.” 

Powers was prosecuted in the U.S. District Court, District of Kansas, by Assistant United States Attorney D. Christopher Oakley. The case was jointly investigated by the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General, the Kansas Department of Revenue, the Kansas Department for Children and Families, and by Special Agent in Charge W. Kiel Kearney of the Kansas Inspector General’s Office. 

The U.S. Attorney’s Office press release can be found on their website at https://www.justice.gov/usao-ks/pr, or directly here. 

Under Kansas law (K.S.A. 75-7427(k)(1), the Office of Inspector General (OIG) is required to establish mechanism for receiving reports of fraud, waste, abuse, or illegal acts these programs from any individual with relevant information.

To report suspected fraud, waste, abuse, or illegal acts related to cash, food, or health assistance programs, individuals may submit an online form on our website at https://www.ag.ks.gov/divisions/medicaid-inspector-general, by calling 785-296-5050, or by scanning the QR code below.

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