Bangor Woman Pleads Guilty to Stealing Social Security Benefits

Bangor, Maine: Acting United States Attorney Richard W. Murphy announced that Shirley Reynolds, 60, of Bangor, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to stealing Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. SSI benefits are paid to people with limited income who are blind, disabled or elderly.

Court records reveal that between 2009 and October 2016, Reynolds falsely represented to the Social Security Administration (SSA) that she was living alone. In fact, she was living with her husband. When confronted by investigators, Reynolds said that she lied because she knew that her SSI benefits would be reduced or eliminated if she disclosed her true living situation.

defendant faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. She will be sentenced after completion of presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.

The case was investigated by the SSA, Office of the Inspector General.