Two West Virginia Residents Sentenced for Social Security Offenses

From the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of West Virginia:

MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Two West Virginia residents were sentenced in federal court for fraudulent activities, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced today.

Brenda Kaye Stamper, 46, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, was sentenced for stealing her deceased mother’s Social Security Administration Widow Benefits. Stamper’s mother, Nola Wilson, passed away in February 2012. At the time of her death, Wilson was collecting Widow Benefits in the amount of $651 per month. An investigation by the Social Security Administration revealed that from February 2012 through December 2013, Stamper failed to report her mother’s death and, instead, used the monthly payments for her own personal expenses. She pled guilty in September 2014 to one count of “Theft of Government Money.” She was sentenced today to five years of probation and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $15,312.

Marta Ramos, 43, of Hedgesville, West Virginia, was sentenced for fraudulently using the Social Security number of another individual to open multiple bank accounts, utility accounts, and lines of credit. Ramos pled guilty in September 2014 to one count of “Fraudulent Use of a Social Security Number” following an investigation by the United States Secret Service. She was sentenced today to three years of probation and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $4,322.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jarod Douglas prosecuted Stamper and Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Cogar prosecuted Ramos on behalf of the government.

U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.

MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Two West Virginia residents were sentenced in federal court for fraudulent activities, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced today.

Brenda Kaye Stamper, 46, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, was sentenced for stealing her deceased mother’s Social Security Administration Widow Benefits. Stamper’s mother, Nola Wilson, passed away in February 2012. At the time of her death, Wilson was collecting Widow Benefits in the amount of $651 per month. An investigation by the Social Security Administration revealed that from February 2012 through December 2013, Stamper failed to report her mother’s death and, instead, used the monthly payments for her own personal expenses. She pled guilty in September 2014 to one count of “Theft of Government Money.” She was sentenced today to five years of probation and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $15,312.

Marta Ramos, 43, of Hedgesville, West Virginia, was sentenced for fraudulently using the Social Security number of another individual to open multiple bank accounts, utility accounts, and lines of credit. Ramos pled guilty in September 2014 to one count of “Fraudulent Use of a Social Security Number” following an investigation by the United States Secret Service. She was sentenced today to three years of probation and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $4,322.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jarod Douglas prosecuted Stamper and Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Cogar prosecuted Ramos on behalf of the government.

U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.