Euclid woman indicted for fraudulently receiving $335,000 in benefits over two decades

A federal grand jury indicted Gwendolyn Cox-Johnson, 68, of Euclid, for theft of government funds, said David A. Sierleja, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.

The indictment alleges that over a period of 23 years, Cox-Johnson fraudulently received approximately $335,000 in benefits from the Social Security Administration to which she was not entitled.

The Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General conducted the investigation. Special Assistant United States Attorney Lisa J. Sanniti is prosecuting the case.

If convicted, the court will determine the defendant’s sentence after a 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. In most cases, it will be less than the maximum.

An indictment 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.