Hilda Griffin, Stealing Social Security Benefits, Massachusetts 2023

A local woman has admitted to stealing thousands of dollars in Social Security benefits intended for vulnerable individuals.

Hilda Griffin, 41, pleaded guilty in federal court to making false representations to the Social Security Administration.

Griffin served as the representative payee for three individuals who were receiving Social Security benefits, but she failed to disclose that they had stopped living with her in October 2014.

Despite this, Griffin continued to receive benefits on their behalf through December 2014, and then reapplied in October 2016, claiming they were still in her custody.

Griffin improperly received benefits for two of the individuals through March 2017, and through May 2018 for the third individual, netting her over $26,970 in stolen benefits.

The charge of false representations to the Social Security Administration carries a sentence of up to one year in prison, one year of supervised release, and a fine of $1,000.

U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni has scheduled sentencing for June 30, 2023.

The investigation was led by the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Morgan will prosecute the case.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/pr/springfield-woman-pleads-guilty-stealing-social-security-benefits