⏱ 2 min read
A 62-year-old Dade City woman swiped $96,000 from her missing son’s Social Security checks, claiming the benefits even after he vanished in 2016.
Vivina Barnwell, 62, had control of her son’s debit card and withdrew the cash for her own use, a federal probe found.
She pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft and access device fraud in May 2025 and was sentenced to two years in prison this week.
The SSA continued to send checks to her son’s debit card after he went missing, unaware of Barnwell’s scheme.
“The intentional deception perpetrated against the Social Security Administration in this case constitutes theft of taxpayers’ dollars,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe.
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📋 Key Facts
- Crime: White Collar Crime
- Defendant: Social Security Benefits Scam
- Location: US
- Source: DOJ Press Release
