Massachusetts Woman Sentenced for $155,000 Deceased Payee Fraud

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

BOSTON – A Rockland woman was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for stealing Social Security benefits.   

Catherine M. Anzalone, 55, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge George A. O’Toole, Jr. to 12 months of home confinement, three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $155,736 in restitution to the Social Security Administration. Anzalone was arrested and charged in February 2018.

Anzalone’s mother passed away in March 2000. At the time of her death, she was receiving monthly retirement benefits from Social Security. Social Security was not advised of the death and continued to deposit benefit payments into a bank account held jointly with Anzalone. From April 2000 through April 2017, Anzalone illegally received approximately $155,736 in Social Security benefits.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Scott Antolik, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division, made the announcement. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Burzycki of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.

BOSTON – A Rockland woman was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for stealing Social Security benefits.   

Catherine M. Anzalone, 55, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge George A. O’Toole, Jr. to 12 months of home confinement, three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $155,736 in restitution to the Social Security Administration. Anzalone was arrested and charged in February 2018.

Anzalone’s mother passed away in March 2000. At the time of her death, she was receiving monthly retirement benefits from Social Security. Social Security was not advised of the death and continued to deposit benefit payments into a bank account held jointly with Anzalone. From April 2000 through April 2017, Anzalone illegally received approximately $155,736 in Social Security benefits.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Scott Antolik, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division, made the announcement. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Burzycki of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.