Prison Photo (TFP File Photo) Two Georgia women, Teresa Carter and Sharon Crowder, received sentences Friday for stealing over $269,000 in Social
Two Georgia women, Teresa Carter and Sharon Crowder, received sentences Friday for stealing over $269,000 in Social Security benefits intended for relatives who had passed away years earlier.
“Carter and Crowder chose to assume the responsibility of acting on behalf of loved ones as the recipients of their relative’s Social Security benefits,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “Then they concealed the deaths of their relatives and knowingly and unlawfully continued to receive these government funds to which they were not entitled. The defendants’ prosecution and sentence should place others on notice that stealing money from the government and taxpayers is a serious offense.”
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Acting as representative payees, both women of Atlanta were responsible for managing their relatives’ Social Security benefits. However, they failed to report their deaths and continued submitting false statements to the Social Security Administration (SSA).
Carter, a representative for her father, who died in 2006, falsely claimed an SSA employee instructed her to lie on annual reports.
Crowder, acting for her brother, who died in 2009, admitted to knowingly submitting false statements and spending the funds.
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“As representative payees, these defendants had a responsibility to report the death of the beneficiary, rather they falsified information to the Social Security Administration (SSA) and wrongfully converted funds to their own use, which is a crime. These sentences demonstrate that we will continue to investigate representative payees who misappropriate funds issued by the SSA,” said Rodregas W. Owens, Special Agent in Charge, SSA Office of the Inspector General, Atlanta Field Division. “I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane C. Schulman for their work in this case.”
Carter, 66, was sentenced to two years of probation, including 90 days of home confinement, and ordered to pay $130,182.90 in restitution. Crowder, 55, received four years of probation with six months of home confinement and must pay $139,656.00 in restitution.
This case, investigated by the Social Security Administration – Office of the Inspector General.
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