A New York nurse practitioner found herself sentenced to a five-year prison term for a multi-million dollar disability loan fraud, as announced by the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Danielle R. Sassoon. Catherine Seemer, 44, was convicted of defrauding $11.2 million by impersonating doctors and claiming permanent infirmities, so fraudulently discharging loans intended for those in actual need, including service veterans.
Seemer’s unlawful activities lasted from June 2017 to March 2022, and she duped over 125 borrowers into believing they were qualified for student loan forgiveness. With their personal information in hand, Seemer submitted false applications claiming non-existent physical and mental illnesses, as well as using the identities, medical license numbers, and forged signatures of over a dozen doctors to fabricate medical diagnoses and disability certification. According to federal authorities, this operation erroneously cleared approximately $11.2 million in loans.
According to a statement obtained by the Justice Department, U.S. Attorney Danielle R. Sassoon stated, “Today, Catherine Seemer has been held accountable for defrauding a federal loan forgiveness program created to help ease the financial burden of those who suffer from permanent physical or mental disabilities, including military veterans who endure service-related disabilities.” She highlights her commitment to combating fraud and abuse in government-funded programs.
In addition to her imprisonment, Seemer was sentenced to three years of supervised release and a $635,352 reparation order. Assistant U.S. Attorney Qais Ghafary oversaw the investigation, which highlighted the FBI’s collaboration with the United States Department of Education’s Office of Inspector General.
