Lynn Medeiros, Stealing Social Security Benefits, Massachusetts 2023

BOSTON — A New Bedford woman has been sentenced to four months in prison for stealing over $60,000 in Social Security benefits from her disabled son, authorities said.

Lynn Medeiros, 49, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton on [current date] in U.S. District Court in Boston for stealing over $60,000 in Social Security benefits by continuing to collect her disabled son’s benefits after he left her custody.

Medeiros was sentenced to four months in prison, one year of supervised release, including six months of home confinement, and ordered to pay $63,798 in restitution to the Social Security Administration.

According to prosecutors, in April 2005, Medeiros applied for Social Security Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability benefits on behalf of her son. By signing the application, Medeiros acknowledged her responsibility to notify Social Security if her son left her custody or otherwise changed his living arrangements.

Her son was approved for benefits, and his monthly Social Security checks were issued to Medeiros as his representative payee. Beginning in August 2007, Medeiros’s son ceased to reside with her. However, each year from 2008 to 2013, Medeiros submitted forms to Social Security falsely stating that her son was still living with her and that she was spending the Social Security money on his behalf.

In this manner, from August 2007 through August 2014, Medeiros converted $63,798 in benefits to her own use. United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz and Scott Antolik, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division, made the announcement today.

The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Landry of Ortiz’s Major Crimes Unit. Lynn Medeiros is to be taken into custody within six months of today’s date to begin serving her sentence.

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