FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	CONTACT: Lauren Horwood
June 27, 2011	PHONE: (916) 554-2706
www.usdoj.gov/usao/cae	usacae.edcapress@usdoj.gov
Docket #: 1:10-cr-00495-LJO

FRESNO, Calif. — United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced that Felipa Vargas, 77, of Bakersfield, pleaded guilty on Friday, June 24, 2011 to one count of theft of government money and property, specifically Social Security Supplemental Security Income (“SSI”) benefit payments.

            According to the plea agreement, Vargas admitted that between October 2004 and August 2010, she maintained multiple bank accounts into which she deposited approximately $99,414 in addition to her SSI benefit payments. Vargas admitted that she intentionally failed to report this money to the Social Security Administration in order to continue receiving SSI benefits to which she would not have been entitled had she disclosed the money she was receiving. As a result of her failure to disclose the information, the Social Security Administration paid her approximately $34,244.

            This case is the product of an investigation by the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorney Henry Z. Carbajal III is prosecuting the case.

            Vargas is scheduled to be sentenced by United States District Judge Lawrence J. O’Neill on September 2, 2011. The maximum statutory penalty for theft of government money and property is 10 years in prison. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.

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