FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SEPTEMBER 28, 2009
WWW.USDOJ.GOV/USAO/MA
CONTACT: CHRISTINA DiIORIO-STERLING
PHONE: (617)748-3356
E-MAIL: USAMA.MEDIA@USDOJ.GOV
FITCHBURG MOTHER GUILTY OF DEFRAUDING SSA OF CHILDREN’S BENEFITS
BOSTON, MA - A Fitchburg woman was convicted Friday in federal court of collecting benefits from the Social Security Administration for children for whom she no longer had custody.
Acting United States Attorney Michael K. Loucks and Jeff Paula, Special Agent in Charge of the Office of the Inspector General, Social Security Administration, Office of Investigations - Boston Field Division, announced that CRYSTAL SURETT, age 29, of Fitchburg, Massachusetts, pled guilty before U.S. District Judge F. Dennis Saylor, IV to Defrauding the Social Security Administration.
At the plea hearing, the prosecutor told the Court that had the case proceeded to trial the Government’s evidence would have proven that SURETT was the representative payee of benefits for her three minor children and was authorized to receive benefits from the Social Security Administration on their behalf. SURETT was also obligated to notify the Social Security Administration if there were any change in the living situation of any or all of her children. In October 2007, the Massachusetts Department of Social Services removed SURETT’s children from her home and SURETT failed to notify the Social Security Administration of the change in the custody of her children with the intent to continue to receive benefits as the representative payee of them. SURETT collected over $25,000 in unauthorized benefits intended for her children, and spent the money on entertainment, meals and retail purchases for herself.
Judge Saylor scheduled sentencing for December 18, 2009. SURETT faces up to five years imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release and a $ 250,000 fine.
The case was investigated by the Office of the Inspector General, Social Security Administration, Office of Investigations - Boston Field Division. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Hennessy of Loucks’ Worcester Branch Office.
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