CONCORD, N.H. – Bonita Kitson, a 44-year-old woman from Boscawen, appeared in court, pleading guilty to a string of financial crimes that left the system reeling. Her case, which involves Social Security Fraud, Making False Statements, and Wire Fraud, has left many questioning the effectiveness of the system.
According to the evidence presented, Kitson and her husband continued to receive disability benefits and Food Stamps after their marriage in October 2010. What’s astonishing is that neither of them reported their union to Social Security or the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services. In fact, Kitson went so far as to claim that she and her husband were merely friends, a clever ruse that allowed them to continue receiving benefits they shouldn’t have.
It wasn’t until October 2014, when Kitson applied for a lump-sum death benefit after claiming her husband had passed away, that the truth finally came to light. The marriage was not disclosed until then, and as a result, Kitson and her husband fraudulently received an additional $27,654 in disability benefits and Food Stamps, with Kitson also receiving $1,134 in Aid to the Permanently and Totally Disabled to which she was not entitled.
The investigation that led to Kitson’s guilty plea was a joint effort between the Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General and the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services’ Special Investigations Unit. Special Assistant United States Attorney Karen Burzycki will be handling the prosecution.
Kitson is scheduled to be sentenced on July 29, 2016, and faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The court will take into account a presentence report prepared by the United States Probation and Pretrial Services Office before making a final decision.
As the case against Kitson unfolds, it serves as a stark reminder of the importance of transparency and accountability in our social welfare programs. The fact that Kitson was able to deceive the system for so long is a concerning reality that must be addressed.
The guilty plea marks a significant victory in the fight against financial crimes, but it also raises questions about the vulnerabilities in our system that made it possible for Kitson to carry out her scheme. As we continue to investigate and prosecute cases like this, we must also work to prevent similar crimes from happening in the future.
Related Federal Cases
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Key Facts
- State: New Hampshire
- Category: White Collar Crime|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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