Cassandra Joan Fadness Sentenced In U.S. District Court

The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Helena, on April 20, 2013, before U.S. District Judge Senior U.S. District Judge Charles C. Lovell, CASSANDRA JOAN FADNESS, a 60-year-old resident of Boulder, appeared for sentencing. FADNESS was sentenced to a term of:

Probation: 3 years

Special Assessment: $100

Restitution: must repay government for cost of probation

FADNESS was sentenced in connection with her guilty plea to theft of government money and social security payee fraud.

In an Offer of Proof filed by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Chad C. Spraker, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:

From approximately April of 2008 to approximately August of 2008, in Helena, FADNESS, while operating Montana Payee Services, became the representative payee for X.X. and, in that capacity, withdrew funds from X.X.'s beneficiary bank account by withdrawing cash and unauthorized fees and converting the cash and fees for her own personal use.

Because there is no parole in the federal system, the "truth in sentencing" guidelines mandate that FADNESS will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, FADNESS does have the opportunity to earn a sentence reduction for "good behavior." However, this reduction will not exceed 15% of the overall sentence.

The investigation was conducted by the Social Security Administration - Office of Inspector General.