Baltimore Woman Pleads Guilty to Stealing Almost $200,000 in Social Security Benefits

Baltimore, Maryland –Patricia Green Jackson, age 63, of Baltimore, pleaded guilty today to theft of government property arising from a scheme to steal over $196,000 in social security benefits.

The guilty plea 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 her guilty plea, 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. 

Jackson admitted that, after J.W.’s death she withdrew and spent J.W.’s monthly SSA retirement benefits via debit card withdrawals and transactions. 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.  When she was interviewed by law enforcement on April 2, 2015, Jackson admitted that she knew she was not entitled to J.W.’s retirement benefits.

Jackson faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for theft of government property.  U.S. District Judge Marvin J. Garbis has scheduled sentencing for March 9, 2016 at 9:30 a.m. 

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.