Two South Carolina Women Sentenced for Roles in Separate Social Security Fraud Cases

October 18, 2013

Rita Marie Sherlock, age 38 and Mary Teresa Sherlock, age 42, of North Augusta, were sentenced Wednesday for their roles in separate Social Security Fraud Cases. Facts presented to the court show that the Sherlocks had been receiving Social Security Disability payments since the mid 1990’s and have stolen nearly $200,000 from taxpayers. The women claimed to be blind, but were discovered to have valid South Carolina driver’s licenses and had been cited in the past for traffic violations.

The Sherlocks each pled guilty to one count of theft of government funds, a violation of 18 United States Code, Section 641. They were each sentenced to five months incarceration in the United States Bureau of Prisons followed by five months house arrest. Rita Sherlock will have to repay the Social Security Administration $100,408.70 in restitution. Mary Sherlock will have to repay the Social Security Administration $91,977.20 in restitution.

The case was jointly investigated by agents of the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney T. DeWayne Pearson of the Columbia office.Rita Marie Sherlock, age 38 and Mary Teresa Sherlock, age 42, of North Augusta, were sentenced Wednesday for their roles in separate Social Security Fraud Cases. Facts presented to the court show that the Sherlocks had been receiving Social Security Disability payments since the mid 1990’s and have stolen nearly $200,000 from taxpayers. The women claimed to be blind, but were discovered to have valid South Carolina driver’s licenses and had been cited in the past for traffic violations.