Springfield Woman Pleads Guilty to Stealing Social Security Benefits

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

BOSTON – A Springfield woman pleaded guilty today to stealing Social Security benefits.

Hilda Griffin, 41, pleaded guilty one count of false representations to Social Security Administration. U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni scheduled sentencing for June 30, 2023. 

Griffin served as the representative payee for three individuals who were receiving Social Security benefits. Griffin failed to disclose that the individuals stopped living with her in October 2014, and she continued to receive benefits on the individuals’ behalf through December 2014, when she stopped serving as the personal representative. In October 2016, Griffin reapplied to receive Social Security benefits on behalf of the three individuals, despite the fact that they were not in her custody. Griffin then improperly received benefits for two of the individuals through March 2017, and through May 2018 for the third individual. In total, Griffin stole more than $26,970 in benefits intended for the three individuals

The charge of false representations to the Social Security Administration provides for a sentence of up to one year in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of $1,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Sharon MacDermott, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Morgan of Rollins’ Springfield Branch Office is prosecuting the case.