A 61-year-old woman from Trotwood, Ohio, has been sentenced to prison for stealing nearly $223,000 in social security benefits and $1,200 in COVID-19 stimulus money from her deceased brother.
Karen Lamb, 61, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to six months in prison followed by six months in home detention for stealing social security benefits and COVID-19 stimulus money in the name of her deceased brother. Lamb was also ordered to repay the money she stole.
According to court documents, Lamb fraudulently obtained nearly $223,000 in social security payments and $1,200 in COVID-19 stimulus money. Lamb’s brother died in 2004, when he was a recipient of social security benefits. Lamb did not notify social security or the bank of her brother’s death, and instead continued to receive his payments into a shared bank account. Lamb updated the address associated with the bank account to her own physical address.
This sentence demonstrates that concealing someone’s death to gain access to their social security benefits is a federal crime, and one that the social security administration (ssa) office of the inspector general (oig) will continue to fight.
The theft in this case was detected through an audit by the ssa’s office of inspector general. The united states secret service also assisted with this case.
Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, announced the sentence imposed yesterday by Senior U.S. District Court Judge Thomas M. Rose. Special Assistant United States Attorney Timothy Landry is representing the United States in this case.
Karen Lamb, defendant, stole social security benefits and COVID-19 stimulus money, Dayton, Ohio. The crime was committed over nearly 16 years. Lamb’s brother died in 2004. The total amount stolen is nearly $223,000 in social security payments and $1,200 in COVID-19 stimulus money. The sentence is six months in prison followed by six months in home detention. The defendant was ordered to repay the money she stole.
Related Federal Cases
- James Pavlounis, Social Security Disability Benefits Fraud, New York 2023 · Ohio
- James Pavlounis, Social Security Administration Fraud and Tax Evasion, California 2023 · Texas
- James Pavlounis, Social Security Administration Scam, New York 2023 · Ohio
- India N. Parker, Theft of Government Property, Ohio, 2023 · West Virginia
- Nicole Pennington, COVID Loan Wire Fraud, California 2023 · Ohio
Key Facts
- State: Ohio
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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