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Defendant’s Guilty Plea Rocks Community
Hilda Griffin, a 41-year-old Springfield woman, has pleaded guilty to stealing over $26,970 in Social Security benefits for three individuals. According to court documents, Griffin served as the representative payee for the three individuals, but failed to disclose that they had stopped living with her in October 2014.
Griffin continued to receive benefits on behalf of the individuals through December 2014, and then reapplied to receive benefits in October 2016, despite the fact that they were no longer in her custody. She improperly received benefits for two of the individuals through March 2017, and through May 2018 for the third individual.
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.
U.S. 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.
Griffin is scheduled to be sentenced on June 30, 2023. The community is left reeling from the news, with many questioning how someone could so callously steal from those in need.
As the investigation continues, one thing is clear: Griffin’s actions have had a significant impact on the lives of the three individuals who were supposed to receive these benefits. Her guilty plea is a step in the right direction, but the full extent of her punishment remains to be seen.
Key Facts
- State: Massachusetts
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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