UNITED STATES ATTORNEY ALICE H. MARTIN NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ALABAMA
	FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE			CONTACT: KAREN NARAMORE
	FEBRUARY 26, 2009			PHONE: (205) 244-2001
	www.usdoj.gov/usao/aln			FAX: (205) 244-2171

WOMAN  CHARGED WITH THEFT OF GOVERNMENT PROPERTY

            BIRMINGHAM, AL - BERNADETTA PITTMAN SOTRES, 37, of Brookwood, Alabama, was charged in a two-count indictment filed today at U.S. District Court in Birmingham.  United States Attorney Alice H. Martin announces today that SOTRES  has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Theft of Government Property.

            Count one charges that on March 1, 2004 through November 20, 2004, SOTRES received Social Security benefits intended for her mother.  SOTRES failed to inform the Social Security Administration of her mother’s death and fraudulently used benefits to which she was not entitled.

            The maximum sentence for count one is not more than 10 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.  Count two specifies a forfeiture amount of $38,352.00.

            “Theft of government property does harm to all citizens and are taken seriously by this office,” stated United States Attorney Alice H. Martin.  “We will prosecute these cases arduously”.

            Special agents of the U.S. Social Security Administration investigated this matter.  Assistant United States Attorney Patrick Carney is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

            Members of the public are reminded that the indictment contains only charges.  A defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government’s burden to prove a defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.