Mogadore woman accused of collecting deceased mother's Social Security benefits
A federal grand jury indicted Barbara J. Gable, 50, of Mogadore, for theft of public money, said Carole S. Rendon, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.
Gable fraudulently converted to her own use her mother’s Social Security retirement and survivor’s benefits after her mother died in June 2009. The SSA did not learn of her mother’s death until December 2013. Gable’s theft resulted in a loss to the Social Security Administration of approximately $62,509, according to the indictment.
The United States Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General conducted the investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Lisa J. Sanniti.
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the court after 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.
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.