Munhall Woman Charged With Misuse Of A Social Security Number, Stealing Son's Benefits
PITTSBURGH, Pa. ‑ Acting United States Attorney Robert S. Cessar announced today, August 5, 2010, that on August 4, 2010, Nicole D. Helvy of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on charges of Misuse of a Social Security Number and Theft of Government Property.
The two‑count indictment named Helvy, age 41, as the sole defendant.
According to the indictment presented to the court, Helvy, on September 15, 2005, used a Social Security number assigned to another person for the purpose of filing a bankruptcy petition with the Clerk of the United States Bankruptcy Court. Helvy was also charged with stealing, on February 13, 2006, Social Security Administration benefits paid to her son.
Assistant United States Attorney Carolyn J. Bloch, who presented the case to the grand jury, indicated that the law provides for a maximum total sentence of six years in prison, a fine of $350,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
The Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
