Theresa Kenda Benedict, 55, of Westminster, Massachusetts, has admitted to stealing $46,310 in Social Security benefits meant for a disabled individual under her care. Benedict, who served as the beneficiary’s court-approved representative payee, funneled government funds into her own pockets for nearly a decade—lying to federal authorities year after year.
Benedict pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Worcester to one count of theft of public funds and four counts of making false statements. The charges, announced today by U.S. Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Scott Antolik, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration’s Office of Inspector General, expose a calculated betrayal of trust. Judge Timothy S. Hillman scheduled sentencing for August 14, 2019.
From December 2007 to March 2016, Benedict collected Social Security payments designated solely for the care of a beneficiary unable to manage their own finances. Each year between 2013 and 2016, she submitted false reports to the Social Security Administration, swearing under penalty of perjury that every dollar was spent on the beneficiary’s needs. In reality, she diverted thousands to cover her personal expenses.
The fraud totaled $46,310—money that should have paid for food, housing, medical care, and other essentials for a vulnerable individual. Instead, it vanished into Benedict’s private spending, undermining one of the few safety nets available to those with severe disabilities.
Each false statement charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison, $250,000 in fines, or twice the gross gain or loss—whichever is greater—along with three years of supervised release. The theft of public funds charge allows for up to 10 years behind bars, with identical financial penalties and supervision terms. The final sentence will be determined under federal sentencing guidelines and statutory considerations.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Burzycki of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case. The Social Security Administration’s Office of Inspector General continues to crack down on payee fraud—a growing problem that exploits the most defenseless recipients of federal aid. Benedict’s arrest in June 2018 marked the end of a years-long deception now headed for a federal reckoning.
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Key Facts
- State: Massachusetts
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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