Ohio Woman Charged with $164,000 Deceased Beneficiary Fraud

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

An Akron woman was indicted today for theft of government funds.

Jacqueline R. Acklin, 66, fraudulently converted to her own use her father’s Title II Retirement Insurance benefits after her father passed away.  The Social Security Administration was not made aware of the death and continued to pay benefits a joint account held by Acklin and her late father. For nearly 13 years, Acklin withdrew more than $164,000 in federal benefits from the account for which she was not entitled. 

The Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General conducted the investigation.  Special Assistant United States Attorney Payum Doroodian is prosecuting the case.

If convicted, the Court will determine the defendant’s sentence after a review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violation.  In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum.  In most cases, it will be less than the maximum.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

An Akron woman was indicted today for theft of government funds.

Jacqueline R. Acklin, 66, fraudulently converted to her own use her father’s Title II Retirement Insurance benefits after her father passed away.  The Social Security Administration was not made aware of the death and continued to pay benefits a joint account held by Acklin and her late father. For nearly 13 years, Acklin withdrew more than $164,000 in federal benefits from the account for which she was not entitled. 

The Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General conducted the investigation.  Special Assistant United States Attorney Payum Doroodian is prosecuting the case.

If convicted, the Court will determine the defendant’s sentence after a review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violation.  In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum.  In most cases, it will be less than the maximum.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.