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Spencer woman indicted for Social Security fraud

  • Posted by The Burbs (Sponsor: North End Motor Sales) Mon at 6:03 PM - Filed in News - #Worcester  #Spencer  #U.S. Attorney  - 1,552 views

    WORCESTER — A Spencer woman has been indicted on charges of bank fraud for allegedly collecting a deceased beneficiary’s Social Security payments for more than 15 years, federal prosecutors said Monday.

    Gina Llerena-Donohue, 62, is accused of fraudulently obtaining about $41,954 in benefits from February 2006 through May 2021, according to the U.S. attorney’s office for Massachusetts.

    Prosecutors say Llerena-Donohue held power of attorney for a Social Security recipient who died in January 2006. She allegedly failed to report the death and continued withdrawing benefits that were deposited into the beneficiary’s bank account. Authorities also allege she submitted 4 false affidavits in 2018 and 2019 stating the power of attorney was still valid.

    Llerena-Donohue is charged with 1 count of bank fraud, which carries a potential sentence of up to 30 years in prison, 5 years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. She is set to appear in federal court in Worcester at a later date.

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