New York Woman Sentenced for Theft of Social Security Funds

ROCHESTER, N.Y.-- U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today Cynthia Cornell, 46, of Avon, N.Y., who was convicted of theft of public money, was sentenced to one year probation and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $10,504 to the Social Security Administration by U.S. District Judge David G. Larimer.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany H. Lee, who handled the case, stated that beginning in 1997, Cornell was the representative payee on behalf of her minor son who was receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA). In August 2007, Cornell's son moved in with his father.  The defendant failed to report the change in residence of her minor son and continued to receive SSI benefits from August 2007 to April 2008, totaling $10,504.00  to which she was not entitled. 

The sentencing is the culmination of an investigation on the part of Special Agents of  the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General under the direction of Edward J. Ryan, Special Agent in Charge.