Nine Florida Residents Charged with Stealing $1.4 Million in Social Security and other Federal Benefits

May 23, 2014

From the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Middle District of Florida:

Jacksonville, Orlando, and Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces the unsealing of nine separate indictments charging individuals with stealing approximately $1.4 million in federal benefits to which they were not entitled. The penalty for stealing federal benefits is up to ten years in federal prison per count. These nine Middle District of Florida cases arose as the result of Operation Tombstone, an operation initiated and overseen by the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General and the investigative work of Special Agents with multiple Offices of Inspectors General of various federal agencies and departments.

Linda Sue Bellamy (60, Jacksonville) is charged with one count of stealing government property. According to the indictment returned in her case, between October 2005 and October 2013, Bellamy stole approximately $62,518 of government benefits from the Social Security Administration.

According to the indictment returned in her case, Sonia Destine Casbar (57, Ocala) is charged with one count of stealing government property. The indictment alleges that between May 2010 and July 2013, Casbar stole approximately $45,111 of government benefits from the Social Security Administration.

Angela Ann Driggers (53, Callahan) is charged with four counts of stealing government property. The indictment in her case alleges that between April 2005 and December 2013, Driggers stole approximately $131,078.32 of government benefits from the Social Security Administration and the Federal Medicaid Health Care Benefit Program.

According to the indictment returned in her case, Adriyanna Herdener (37, Melbourne) is charged with one count of stealing government property and one count of social security fraud. The indictment alleges that between April 2005 and December 2013, Herdener stole approximately $21,712 of government benefits from the Social Security Administration. Herdener faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison for stealing government property, and up to 5 years in federal prison for the fraud charge.

According to the indictment returned in her case, Camilla Ann Winterling (57, Liberty Township, Ohio) is charged with four counts of stealing government property. The indictment alleges that between April 1993 and February 2014, Winterling stole a total of approximately $472,788.64 of government benefits from the Social Security Administration and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Sandra McCray (57, Jacksonville) is charged with two counts of stealing government property. Between July 8, 1995 and February 2014, McCray allegedly stole approximately $142,724.00 of government benefits from the Social Security Administration.

According to the indictment returned in his case, Rickey Nelson (60, Jacksonville) is charged with two counts of stealing government property. The indictment alleges that between April 1999 and March 2014, Nelson stole approximately $205,530.00 of government benefits from the Social Security Administration.

Steven Hutka (67, Jacksonville) is charged with one count of stealing government property. The indictment alleges that between April 1999 and March 2014, Hutka stole approximately $69,351.00 of government benefits from the Social Security Administration.

According to the indictment returned in his case, Daniel Ovshak (64, St. Johns) is charged with two counts of stealing government property. The indictment alleges that between July and December 2013, Ovshak stole approximately $267,701.00 of government benefits from the Social Security Administration.

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of the federal criminal laws, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

Agencies conducting these investigations included the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, the Veterans Administration, Office of Inspector General, the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, and the United States Secret Service. The cases will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys throughout the Middle District of Florida, including Robert Bodnar, Jackson Boggs, Mac Heavener, and Jay Taylor.

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of the federal criminal laws, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.