Crawford County Woman Pleads Guilty To Theft Of Government Funds

KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A Crawford County woman has pleaded guilty to receiving more than $45,000 in federal aid she did not qualify to receive, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said today.

Jody Gayle Simmons, 48, Arma, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of theft of government funds. In her plea, she admitted to fraudulently receiving a total of $45,046 from the Social Security Administration's Supplemental Security Income program, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's food stamp program, the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and a one-time stimulus payment made to her pursuant to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

In her plea, she admitted to falsely reporting that her husband moved out of their residence so that his income would not disqualify her from receiving assistance.

Sentencing is set for November 6, 2013, at 1:30 p.m. She faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. Grissom commended the Social Security Administration – Office of the Inspector General, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Trey Alford for their work on the case.