Baltimore Woman Indicted for Allegedly Stealing Almost $200,000 in Social Security Benefits

Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury indicted Patricia Green Jackson, age 63, of Baltimore, for theft of government property and other charges arising from a scheme to steal social security benefits. The indictment was returned on September 15, 2015.

The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein and Special Agent in Charge Michael McGill of the Social Security Administration - Office of Inspector General, Philadelphia Field Division.

According to the two-count indictment, Jackson was a friend of J.W. and a co-signer on J.W.’s bank account.  J.W. began receiving retirement benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA) in 1986, which were paid by direct deposit to her bank account.  J.W. died on December 31, 1997.  SSA was not aware of J.W.’s death, and continued to make monthly payments of J.W.’s retirement benefits until March 2015.

According to the indictment, after J.W.’s death Jackson used a debit card to withdraw and spend J.W.’s monthly SSA retirement benefits. At the time J.W.’s benefits were suspended in 2015, SSA was paying $1,087 per month in benefits and paid a total of $196,323 in unauthorized benefits after J.W.’s death in 1997. The indictment alleges that not only did Jackson steal those funds, but she concealed J.W.’s death so that SSA would continue to pay J.W.’s retirement benefits.

Jackson faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for theft of government property and a maximum of five years in prison for SSA benefit fraud.  No court appearance has been scheduled.

An indictment is not a finding of guilt.  An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the Social Security Administration - Office of Inspector General for its work in the investigation.  Mr. Rosenstein thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren E. Perry, who is prosecuting the case.