FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	CONTACT: Lauren Horwood
March 24, 2011	PHONE: (916) 554-2706
www.usdoj.gov/usao/cae	usacae.edcapress@usdoj.gov
Docket #: 1:11-cr-00115-LJO

FRESNO, Calif. — United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced that Nancy Ann Keenan, 56, of Bakersfield, was arrested Wednesday on an outstanding warrant issued after a federal grand jury in Fresno returned an indictment on March 17, 2011 for theft of government property.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy R. Jehangiri is prosecuting the case.

The indictment alleges that between 2003 and 2010, Keenan received more than $70,000 in Social Security retirement benefits belonging to her great aunt who died on July 6, 2003. At the time of her great aunt's death, Keenan provided the necessary personal information to the county recorder who issued the certificate of death. The SSA was not informed of the death and continued to deposit retirement benefits directly into a bank checking account. Keenan was not an owner of that bank account, but signed checks drawn from the account spending the funds for her personal use.

Keenan was arraigned yesterday before Magistrate Judge Jennifer L. Thurston in Bakersfield and pleaded not guilty. She is not in custody and her next court appearance will be in Fresno before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. O'Neill on April 8, 2011 at 9:00 a.m.

If convicted, Keenan faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory sentencing factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.

The charges are only allegations and the defedant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

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