Loretta Washington, a 60-year-old resident of Binghamton, New York, has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for social security fraud. The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Amy Connelly, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General (SSA-OIG), New York Field Office.
Washington had previously pleaded guilty to applying for and receiving social security benefits as the representative-payee for a minor child. A representative-payee is designated by the SSA to manage benefits for those unable to do so themselves. In September 2018, the Broome County Department of Social Services removed the child from Washington's custody after finding the four-year-old wandering alone at night. Despite this change, Washington failed to inform the Social Security Administration and falsely claimed that the child remained in her care. Between October 2018 and November 2021, she unlawfully collected over $25,000 in benefits.
Alongside her prison sentence, Washington will undergo three years of supervised release and has been ordered to pay restitution to the Social Security Administration.
The investigation was conducted by the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General and prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul J. Tuck.