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SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Loretta Washington, age 60, of Binghamton, New York, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for social security fraud, 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 announced.
As part of her prior guilty plea, Washington admitted that she had applied for and was receiving social security benefits for a minor child, as the minor child’s representative-payee. A representative-payee is a person or organization selected by the SSA to receive benefits on behalf of a beneficiary who is unable to manage their payments. In September 2018, Broome County Department of Social Services removed the child from Washington’s custody after the child—who was four years old at the time—was found walking on a road in the middle of the night. Washington never reported the change in custody to the Social Security Administration and, at one point, lied to the Social Security Administration that the child was still in her custody. In total, Washington stole over $25,000 in social security benefits between October 2018 and November 2021.
In addition to the 18-month term of imprisonment, Washington will serve a term of supervised release of three years. Washington was also ordered to pay restitution to the Social Security Administration.
This case was investigated by the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General and is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul J. Tuck.
Updated February 10, 2025
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