New Castle Woman Sentenced for Defrauding Social Security

PITTSBURGH, PA- A resident of New Castle, PA, has been sentenced in federal court to three years’ probation and must pay $26,917.55 in restitution to the Social Security Administration on her conviction of charges related to Social Security fraud, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

United States District Judge Marilyn J. Horan imposed the sentence on Shawna Stelter, 37.

According to information presented to the court, Stelter failed to disclose that her husband was part of her household when applying for and receiving Supplemental Security Income ("SSI") benefits, and, as a result, received $26,917.55 in SSI benefits to which she knew she was not entitled, from June of 2014 to September of 2016. The court was further informed that Stelter made a false statement on her Redetermination Summary on October 30, 2014, when she further claimed that her husband was not part of her household, and that her household only consisted of herself and her two children.

Assistant United States Attorney Christy C. Wiegand prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

The Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General conducted the investigation leading to prosecution of Stelter.