ABINGDON, VIRGINIA – A Tennessee woman, who previously pleaded guilty to spending an elderly woman’s money without her consent, was sentenced today in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia in Abingdon.

Mary Jane Sanderford, 62, of Gray, Tenn., previously pleaded guilty to one count of credit card fraud. Today in District Court she was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison and three years of supervised release thereafter. Sanderford was also ordered to pay restitution for the entire scope of her criminal conduct in the amount of $32,399.

“Ms. Sanderford deceived her elderly aunt in order to buy herself sunglasses and new tires for her truck," United States Attorney Timothy J. Heaphy said today. “She elevated her own greed over the interests of her family member and took money that did not belong to her. We will continue to work hard to hold accountable anyone who abuses the Social Security safety net." 

Previously, Sanderford admitted that after obtaining guardianship of her 83-year-old aunt in January 2011, she moved $169,054 from her aunt’s account at Branch Banking and Trust to three accounts at the Wythe Branch of Grayson National Bank. The defendant took these actions without her aunt’s consent.

On numerous occasions, and without the authorization of her aunt, Sanderford made personal purchases using a debit card attached to one of the Grayson National Bank accounts. The purchases, which investigators determined to not benefit the victim, included eye glasses for the defendant, sunglasses for the defendant, new tires and a Ford F150 pick-up truck.

In all, the defendant spent approximately $30,000 of her aunt’s money to which she was not entitled to spend.

The investigation of the case was conducted by the United States Secret Service. Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Bockhorst is prosecuting the case for the United States.

 

 

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