ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - A 43-year-old Anchorage woman has been arraigned on charges she committed identity theft and falsely claimed to be a citizen to get benefits.
The U.S. attorney’s office says in a release that a federal grand jury last month indicted Mauluga Leaana for passport fraud, nine counts of making false claims of U.S. citizenship and aggravated identity theft. The office announced her arraignment Monday.
Authorities say she claimed a passport in the name of her sister and citizenship for a variety of benefits, including $14,000 in Alaska Permanent Fund dividends in the last 10 years and more than $17,000 in unemployment benefits.
Leanna was originally from Samoa, which was formerly known as Western Samoa. Unlike those born in American Samoa, those born in Samoa do not hold U.S. nationality.
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