Baltimore Woman Illegally Accepts Social Security Benefits For 19 Years

BALTIMORE (WJZ) – A Baltimore woman pleaded guilty to theft of government property after stealing more than $196,000 in Social Security benefits.

Patricia Green Jackson, 63, was a friend and bank account co-signer of a person who began receiving retirement benefits in 1986.

The person died in 1997, and the Social Security Administration, unaware of the person's death, continued to give unauthorized monthly payments for nearly 20 years.

Jackson was receiving $1087 per month since 1997, which totaled in $197,323 of unauthorized benefits before being caught in 2015. She also admitted she spent it while knowing she wasn't entitled to the benefits.

Jackson is facing a maximum prison sentence of 10 years for theft of government property.