Shrewsbury Man Pleads Guilty To Social Security Fraud

BOSTON - A Shrewsbury man pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Worcester today to taking $57,948 in Social Security payments to which he was not entitled.

George Bergstrom, 60, pleaded guilty to theft of public money. Earlier this month, Bergstrom was charged in a felony information. U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman scheduled sentencing for August 20, 2014.

In 2009, Bergstrom’s mother died, but her Social Security payments continued to be directly deposited into a joint bank account in her name and Bergstrom’s name. From 2009 to 2013, Bergstrom continued to receive and spend his deceased mother’s benefits of more than $1,100 per month. The payments should have ceased upon the death of Bergstrom’s mother and he was not entitled to receive this money.

United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz and Scott Antolik, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division, made the announcement today. The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Landry of Ortiz’s Major Crimes Unit.