Stephanie DiPierro, Benefit Fraud, Massachusetts 2022

A Medford woman was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for fraudulently receiving Social Security disability benefits, Medicare, MassHealth and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.

Stephanie DiPierro, 39, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge William G. Young to one year and one day in prison, three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $108,288 in restitution. This is a result of her guilty plea to three counts of theft of public funds, two counts of making false statements, and one count of falsely representing a Social Security number.

In November 2018, DiPierro pleaded guilty to the charges. Her arrest and charging occurred in November 2017, and she was released on conditions. From October 2007 through May 2017, DiPierro stole $73,288 in Social Security benefits, $8,455 in Medicare benefits, $8,615 in MassHealth benefits and $17,929 in SNAP benefits.

In September 2015, she falsely informed the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance that she did not have any income other than her Social Security benefits when, in fact, she was receiving income as a result of her work as a personal care attendant. DiPierro falsely told Social Security in March 2016, while she was working as a personal care attendant, that she did not take care of any other individual. Additionally, DiPierro also falsely represented her Social Security number on a time sheet submitted in connection with her work as a personal care attendant.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Scott Antolik, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division; Phillip M. Coyne, Special Agent in Charge of the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service’s Boston Regional Office; and Suzanne M. Bump, State Auditor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, made the announcement. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Burzycki of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.

DiPierro’s actions have resulted in a significant financial burden on taxpayers. Her sentence serves as a reminder of the importance of upholding the integrity of government programs and the consequences of fraudulent behavior.