South Glens Falls Fraudster Sentenced for $112K SSA Scam

Roberta L. Rivers, a 58-year-old resident of South Glens Falls, New York, has been sentenced to five months of home confinement and three years of supervised release for her role in a Social Security fraud scheme that netted over $112,000.

The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Richard S. Hartunian and John F. Grasso, Special Agent in Charge of the SSA Office of the Inspector General’s New York Field Office. Rivers pleaded guilty on May 17, 2016, to withholding information from the Social Security Administration (SSA), which allowed her to collect Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Survivors Insurance benefits she was not eligible for.

According to court documents, Rivers failed to report her remarriage and subsequent residence with her husband, a change in circumstances that would have rendered her ineligible for the benefits. Her fraudulent activities spanned from July 2002 through November 2013.

Judge Gary L. Sharpe ordered Rivers to pay $112,072 in restitution to the SSA as part of her sentence. The investigation into Rivers’ fraud was conducted by the SSA Office of the Inspector General, with the case prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason W. White.

This case serves as a stark reminder of the consequences faced by those who defraud the Social Security system. The DOJ’s relentless pursuit of justice in such matters underscores its commitment to protecting federal programs and ensuring accountability for those who misuse them.