A New York woman has been charged with draining nearly $670,000 in Social Security and pension benefits meant for a deceased relative.
Federal prosecutors say 59-year-old Kimberly Cardella of Rensselaer allegedly wrote herself checks and signed them in her late mother-in-law’s name for nearly 17 years, reports NEWS10.
A grand jury indicted Cardella on bank fraud, theft of government property and aggravated identity theft.
Authorities say more than $530,000 came from Social Security and more than $138,000 from a New York State pension fund, totaling $668,884.
The mother-in-law died in 2009, and because agencies were never told, payments kept landing in her checking account.
Investigators from the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General and the New York State Comptroller’s Office uncovered the activity in a joint probe.
Says First Assistant U.S. Attorney John Sarcone,
“The fact that this defendant openly signed her own dead mother-in-law’s name on checks that did not belong to her, in effect adopting her mother-in-law’s identity to obtain public funds intended for those in genuine need is simply shocking.”
Cardella pleaded not guilty at her arraignment and was released on her own recognizance.
If convicted, she faces up to 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine on the bank fraud count alone, plus other penalties and possible restitution of more than $530,000.
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This post New York Woman Allegedly Impersonates Mother-in-Law for Nearly 17 Years, Defrauds $668,884 in Social Security and Pension Benefits may be modified as updates unfold.
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