St. Louis City Woman Indicted for Using Her Deceased Grandmother's Social Security Checks

St. Louis, MO –Corrina Wester, 48, of St. Louis City, was indicted by a federal grand jury on one count of theft of government funds. 

According to the Indictment, Wester grandmother, Dorothy Carlock, passed away on February 22, 2017. Carlock’s death was not reported to the Social Security Administration, and her Social Security benefits continued to be direct deposited into her bank account, which was held jointly with Wester. Carlock’s Social Security record showed that her direct deposit information was changed to this account only 15 days prior to her death.

As of May 1, 2019, the bank account was closed and the Social Security benefits had all been withdrawn. The total amount of Social Security funds deposited following Carlocks’ death was $39,961.00.

The charge of Theft of Government funds carries a maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine of $250,000.   Charges set forth in the indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt.  Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty. 

The Social Security Administration is investigating the case.  Special Assistant United States Attorney Diane Klocke is handling the case.