Carmichaels Woman Sentenced for Defrauding Social Security Administration

PITTSBURGH, PA - A Greene County resident has been sentenced in federal court to four years of probation, together with twelve months of home detention, and restitution of $115,597.94 on her conviction of Social Security fraud, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

United States District Judge David S. Cercone imposed the sentence on Cindy Hancheck, 62, of Carmichaels, Pennsylvania.

According to information presented to the court, from 1999 to 2002, Hancheck made a series of false statements to the Social Security Administration, such as falsely claiming that her husband had left her home and that she did not know his whereabouts. Between 1999 and 2016, Hancheck failed to disclose to the Social Security Administration her husband’s continued presence in her household and his continued financial support of her, with the intent fraudulently to secure Supplemental Security Income benefits. From January 2000 to February 2016, Hancheck received and converted $115,597.94 in Supplemental Security Income benefits to which she knew she was not entitled.

Assistant United States Attorney Adam N. Hallowell prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

United States Attorney Brady commended the Social Security Administration – Office of Inspector General for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Cindy Hancheck.