PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced to one year of probation and ordered to pay restitution of $116,758 for her convictions of social security fraud and theft of government property, according to Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti.
United States District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan imposed the sentence on Teresa Sabolek, 68. The court heard that in May 2009, Sabolek applied for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, falsely claiming she lived alone.
In June 2022, Sabolek submitted a signed statement under penalty of perjury affirming her claim, yet she also applied for spousal benefits on her husband’s Social Security. SSA discovered the discrepancy when pulling her husband’s file, revealing they shared the same address and that Sabolek had been dishonest about her living situation.
The investigation by SSA’s Office of the Inspector General revealed Sabolek’s husband lived in a room at their home, paying mortgage and utilities. Had she disclosed this, Sabolek would not have received any SSI benefits. She was overpaid $116,758 between May 2009 and August 2022.
Assistant United States Attorney Brendan J. McKenna prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. Rivetti commended SSA’s Office of the Inspector General for their successful investigation.
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Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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