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Local woman admits forging 84 checks worth over $110,000

  • WORCESTER — A Charlton woman recently pleaded guilty in federal court in Worcester to fraudulently obtaining more than $110,000 in Social Security benefits, private pension payments and COVID Economic Impact Payments, federal prosecutors said.

    Gina M. Cummings, 61, pleaded guilty to 1 count of bank fraud, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Massachusetts. U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman scheduled sentencing for August 20th.

    Prosecutors said Cummings was arrested and charged in December 2025. From January 2020 through July 2025, she fraudulently obtained about $110,428 after gaining access to the checkbook of a Social Security beneficiary and pensioner who died in August 2019.

    Cummings failed to report the beneficiary’s death to the Social Security Administration, the pension plan and the bank where the funds were deposited, prosecutors said. Instead, she forged the deceased beneficiary’s name on 84 checks and regularly depleted the account through recurring bill payments.

    The bank fraud charge carries a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, 5 years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater.

    The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Nagelberg and the Worcester Branch Office.

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