St. Louis Woman Sentenced for Stealing Dead Grandmother’s Government Benefits

U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Missouri

ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Sarah E. Pitlyk on Tuesday ordered a woman who stole government benefits intended for her dead grandmother to repay the money and sentenced her to five years of probation and 40 hours of community service.

Shamari Jackson, 33, of St. Louis, used her grandmother’s debit card to access $13,047 in Social Security benefits that continued to be paid by direct deposit into her grandmother’s account after her death was not properly reported to the Social Security Administration. Jackson also used a $1,200 COVID-19-related stimulus payment intended for her grandmother, her guilty plea says.

Jackson pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one felony count of theft of government money.

This case was investigated by the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane Klocke prosecuted the case.