Haydenville Woman Indicted for Stealing Social Security Benefits

BOSTON – Shirley Warner, 52, of Haydenville, was indicted in U.S. District Court in Springfield for stealing her deceased mother’s social security benefits for almost four years.

The indictment alleges that between August 2010 and March 2014, after her mother died, Warner stole over $45,000 worth of Social Security benefits intended for her mother.

The charge of theft of public money provides a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000.  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 the Inspector General, Office of Investigations, made the announcement today.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Deepika Bains Shukla of Ortiz’s Springfield Branch Office.

The details contained in the indictment are allegations.  The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.