Beachwood woman charged for collecting her mother's Social Security payments years after her death

Daphna J. Goren of Beachwood was charged in federal court for theft of public money and bank fraud.

Goren fraudulently converted to her own use, her mother’s Social Security Retirement and Survivor’s benefits that continued to be deposited after her mother died in July 2011.  Goren’s theft resulted in a loss to SSA of approximately $91,403, according to a criminal information. 

Goren also is alleged to have forged her mother’s signature on TIAA-CREF payment checks and deposited into her Key Bank account.

Special Agent Manuel Muniz from the United States Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General conducted the investigation.  The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Payum Doroodian.

If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violation.  In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.

An information is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  A defendant is entitled to a fair trial, in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.