Northumberland County Woman Indicted For Taking Deceased Husband’s Social Security Benefits

SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Loretta Galloway, age 55, of Northumberland, Pennsylvania, was indicted on January 31, 2017, by a federal grand jury for taking her deceased husband’s social security benefits.

According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, the indictment was unsealed on February 1, 2017, and charges Galloway with taking more than $83,000, over approximately five years, of her deceased husband’s Social Security benefits to pay her bills and other expenses.

The case was investigated by the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General. Assistant United States Evan Gotlob is prosecuting the case.

Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

The maximum penalty under federal law is 10 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant’s educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.

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