Medina Woman Sentenced For Stealing Social Security Benefits

CONTACT:      Barbara Burns
PHONE:         (716) 843-5817
FAX:            (716) 551-3051
 
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul Jr. announced today that Heather Brooks, 33, of Medina, NY, who was convicted of theft of public money, was sentenced to two years probation by U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott S. Allen, Jr., who handled the case, stated that between June 1, 2010 and May 1, 2013, the defendant willfully stole Social Security Income benefits from the United States Social Security Administration by purposely under reporting income she received from two separate employers. Brooks was asked to recertify her income on two occasions, and on both occasions, she purposely under reported. In total, the defendant received $19,317.87 that she was not entitled to receive.  In addition to her period of probation, the defendant was ordered to pay restitution totaling $19,317 to the Social Security Administration.

The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Edward J. Ryan.