BOSTON – An Orleans woman pleaded guilty Thursday in federal court in Boston to stealing her deceased husband’s Social Security benefits.
Susan Condon, 65, pleaded guilty to one count of theft of public funds and one count of making false statements. U.S. District Court Judge Douglas P. Woodlock scheduled sentencing for May 7, 2018.
Condon served as the representative payee for her husband in his receipt of Social Security benefits. Her husband passed away in April 2004, but she continued to receive his Social Security benefits each month.
In January 2015, Condon falsely reported to the Social Security Administration (SSA) that she used all of the funds she received as her husband’s representative payee for her husband’s benefit.
She did not inform the SSA that her husband had died more than 10 years earlier. From the time of her husband’s death in April 2004 through February 2017, Condon received approximately $186,804 in Social Security benefits.
The charge of theft of public funds provides for a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater.
The charge of making false statements provides for a sentence of no greater than five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater.
