Vermont Woman Sentenced For Forgery of Social Security Check

The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that Tammy Lashomb, 37, was sentenced today by United States District Judge William K. Sessions III, to a one year term of probation including a four-month period of home detention. Judge Sessions also ordered that Ms. Lashomb pay restitution to the Social Security Administration in the amount of $11,328.

On February 6, 2012, Ms. Lashomb pled guilty to a one-count Indictment charging her with forging an endorsement on a United States Treasury check. The $11,328 check was issued by the Social Security Administration to Ms. Lashomb’s then-boyfriend, Justin Leonard, under the Social Security Disability Insurance program. The check arrived at Mr. Leonard’s residence several days after his death. In order to have the benefits paid to her, Ms. Lashomb forged Mr. Leonard’s name on the check and endorsed it over to herself. The government did not recover any of the $11,328 fraudulently obtained by Ms. Lashomb.

The case was investigated by the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Doyle. Ms. Lashomb was represented by Steven Barth of the Office of the Federal Public Defender.

Source:  http://www.justice.gov/usao/vt/press/releases/20120604_lashomb.html