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Mobile Woman Sentenced for Social Security Benefits Scam
A Mobile woman has been sentenced to 6 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release for a Social Security benefits fraud scheme targeting vulnerable residents of her group homes.
Meoshi Shonta Nelson, 46, also known as Meoshi Williams, was ordered to pay over $107,000 in restitution to the Social Security Administration for lying to get the benefits of vulnerable persons whom she overcharged for room and board in her group boarding homes in Mobile.
Nelson was previously convicted in 2015 of federal felony mail and access device fraud charges for stealing money from the fund established to compensate those with losses from the Deepwater Horizon Oil spill disaster.
As an applicant to the SSA’s Representative Payee Program, Nelson failed to disclose her convictions and repeatedly lied to the SSA about her status as a convicted felon. After being barred from serving as anyone’s representative payee in 2017, Nelson enlisted her family and friends to apply on behalf of her residents, who then turned over the money to her.
Nelson took 75% off the top of each of her SSA beneficiaries for room and board, averaging over $500 per month for each resident. This exceeded the fair market value of rent at the locations by two-to-four times, and she also received federal food stamps for some of the residents.
“Driven by greed, this woman preyed on vulnerable people, many of whom were elderly and could not manage their own finances,” said U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello. “Hopefully, her time in prison will deter her from further committing further crimes against other members of our community, especially the elderly and vulnerable.”
The Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General, Atlanta Field Division investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex Lankford prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
Key Facts
- State: Alabama
- Category: White Collar Crime|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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