Retirement Thief Ronda Oswalt Cashes in on $75K

ST. LOUIS, MO – In a brazen case of government cash grab, Ronda G. Oswalt, a 58-year-old woman from Marion County, near Hannibal, Missouri, has admitted to taking more than $75,000 in retirement benefits meant for her deceased mother-in-law.

Oswalt pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one felony count of theft of government money, a charge that carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Oswalt failed to notify the U.S. Office of Personnel Management about the death of her mother-in-law in December 2018. As a result, federal retirement benefits continued to be automatically deposited into her mother-in-law’s credit union account, which Oswalt then used to cover her own personal expenses.

Oswalt admitted to using the stolen funds to write checks to herself and pay personal bills, raking in a total of $75,734 in federal retirement benefits between December 2018 and November 2021. The Office of Personnel Management Office of Inspector General investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Ladendorf is prosecuting the matter.

Oswalt is scheduled to be sentenced on July 25. The court will determine the extent of her punishment for this egregious crime.

The case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of accountability and transparency in government programs. As Oswalt faces the consequences of her actions, it is clear that the justice system will not tolerate such blatant disregard for the law.

Ronda Oswalt’s guilty plea is a significant blow to those who would seek to exploit government benefits for personal gain. The people of Missouri can rest assured that those who commit such crimes will be held accountable.