North Adams Woman Pleads Guilty to Concealing Marriage from Social Security

BOSTON – A North Adams woman pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Springfield on Wednesday, April 22, 2015, to fraudulently concealing her marriage from the Social Security Administration to secure unauthorized Social Security payments.

Nancy Killackey, 54, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni to one count of fraudulent concealment to secure unauthorized social security payments.  Between Jan. 1, 2002 and Oct.1, 2013, Killackey fraudulently concealed her 2001 marriage with the intent to secure $72,635 in Social Security Supplemental Security Income payments.  Because her husband earned sufficient income, Killackey was not eligible to receive the supplemental income benefit.  When confronted by federal agents from the SSA Office of Inspector General, Killackey falsely claimed that she was not married to her husband. She said that on the day of their marriage, he had a heart attack and the wedding did not take place.

The charging statute provides a sentence of no greater than five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and restitution.  Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties.  Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz and Scott Antolik, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Regional Office, made the announcement today.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven H. Breslow of Ortiz’s Springfield Branch Office.