New Orleans Woman Pleads Guilty to Theft of Social Security Benefits

U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite announced that LAVERNE ROSE, age 69, of New Orleans, pled guilty yesterday to theft of government funds.

ROSE admitted that she stole $282,400 from the Social Security Administration over the course of 23 years. According to court documents, ROSE jointly held a bank account with her father, who died in 1990. Unaware of ROSE’s father’s death, the Social Security Administration continued wiring retirement benefits for him to the account. ROSE received and spent the benefits until 2014 when the Social Security Administration learned that ROSE’s father had died. ROSE admitted that she knew the payments should have ceased and that they did not belong to her.

ROSE faces up to ten years’ incarceration and a fine of up to twice the theft amount. U.S. District Judge Kurt D. Engelhardt set sentencing for May 13, 2015.

U.S. Attorney Polite praised the work of the United States Social Security Administration in investigating this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chandra Menon is in charge of this prosecution.