Delaware Woman Sentenced To 18 Months In Jail For 12 Year Social Security Fraud

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

WILMINGTON, Del. – A Smyrna woman was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika to 18 months in prison for defrauding the U.S. Social Security Administration (“SSA”) of more than $175,000.

According to court documents, Deborah Vaughn, 63, spent over a decade collecting fraudulent Social Security funds intended for her deceased mother-in-law. Each month for twelve years, the SSA deposited approximately $1,100 into a bank account belonging to Vaughn’s mother-in-law. Vaughn, who was a joint-user on the bank account, fraudulently accessed and withdrew the money—knowing that her mother-in-law, the rightful beneficiary of the Social Security funds, had died in 2006.  When the SSA contacted Vaughn in 2013 and again in 2018, Vaughn repeatedly lied, including pretending to be her deceased mother-in-law, to ensure that the Social Security deposits would continue.

David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, commented on the sentence: “By defrauding the government, Vaughn’s conduct subverted the purpose of the SSA: to provide a safety net for vulnerable individuals in our society. The Court’s sentence reflects the seriousness of fraud against the government and should serve as a warning to those inclined to lie and cheat to obtain Social Security payments they do not deserve.”

“I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for its support in bringing this individual to justice and recovering funds for Social Security,” said Gail S. Ennis, Inspector General for the Social Security Administration. “We will continue to work closely with SSA and other agencies to identify beneficiary deaths and pursue those who misuse those payments after someone dies.”

SSA’s Office of the Inspector General investigated this case; Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher R. Howland prosecuted it.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Criminal Action No. 19-cr-63-MN.

WILMINGTON, Del. – A Smyrna woman was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika to 18 months in prison for defrauding the U.S. Social Security Administration (“SSA”) of more than $175,000.

According to court documents, Deborah Vaughn, 63, spent over a decade collecting fraudulent Social Security funds intended for her deceased mother-in-law. Each month for twelve years, the SSA deposited approximately $1,100 into a bank account belonging to Vaughn’s mother-in-law. Vaughn, who was a joint-user on the bank account, fraudulently accessed and withdrew the money—knowing that her mother-in-law, the rightful beneficiary of the Social Security funds, had died in 2006.  When the SSA contacted Vaughn in 2013 and again in 2018, Vaughn repeatedly lied, including pretending to be her deceased mother-in-law, to ensure that the Social Security deposits would continue.

David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, commented on the sentence: “By defrauding the government, Vaughn’s conduct subverted the purpose of the SSA: to provide a safety net for vulnerable individuals in our society. The Court’s sentence reflects the seriousness of fraud against the government and should serve as a warning to those inclined to lie and cheat to obtain Social Security payments they do not deserve.”

“I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for its support in bringing this individual to justice and recovering funds for Social Security,” said Gail S. Ennis, Inspector General for the Social Security Administration. “We will continue to work closely with SSA and other agencies to identify beneficiary deaths and pursue those who misuse those payments after someone dies.”

SSA’s Office of the Inspector General investigated this case; Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher R. Howland prosecuted it.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Criminal Action No. 19-cr-63-MN.