Sacramento Woman Pleads Guilty To Felony Social Security Fraud

usdoj.gov, Oct 31, 2006

United States Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced today that Cherie Thompson, 50, of Antelope, California, pled guilty today before United States District Judge Garland E. Burrell, to stealing U.S. Social Security Administration funds.

This case is the product of extensive investigation by the U. S. Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General.

According to Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Rodriguez, who is prosecuting the case, Thompson admitted that from 1991 through October 2005, among other things, she claimed to be separated from her husband in order to receive increased social security benefits. During the relevant time period, Thompson stole $147,788 in social security funds that she was not entitled to receive. According to the plea agreement in the case, Thompson will make full restitution to the United States for her theft of Social Security Administration funds.

Thompson is scheduled to be sentenced on January 12, 2007. The maximum penalty she faces is 10 years imprisonment, a three-year term of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. However, the actual sentence will be dictated by the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of factors, and will be imposed at the discretion of the court.