Mansfield Woman Charged With Stealing From Social Security

Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, today announced that a grand jury returned a one-count indictment charging Renee Brooks, age 57, of Mansfield, Ohio, with one count of theft of government funds.

The indictment alleges that from in or about July 1996, and continuing until in or about August 2011, Renee Brooks stole Social Security Disability Benefits in the amount of $92,081.53 from the United States Social Security Administration to which she was not entitled.  

If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after a review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violation.  In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Gregory C. Sasse, following investigation by agents of the Office of Inspector General of the United States Social Security Administration.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government's burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.