Birmingham Woman Indicted for Stealing Social Security Disability Benefits
BIRMINGHAM – A federal grand jury today indicted a Birmingham woman for stealing government property by taking Social Security disability checks intended for someone who had died, announced U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance and Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, Special Agent in Charge Guy P. Fallen.
The indictment filed in U.S. District Court charges CHERYL SUE YOUNG, 59, with one count of theft of government property. The indictment alleges Young took more than $33,000 in monthly benefit checks between December 2006 and February 2011.
“My office will continue to prosecute people who steal Social Security disability benefits so that those funds will be available for the people truly in need of them,” Vance said.
If convicted, Young faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa K. Atwood is prosecuting the case.
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.
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Joyce White Vance
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