Lemon Grove Woman Guilty of Stealing Dead Dad's Social Security Benefits

LEMON GROVE, CA -- A local woman pleaded guilty this week to stealing over $170,000 in Social Security benefits intended for her father who died years earlier.

According to court documents, Pamela Anita Thomas' father began receiving Social Security retirement benefits via direct deposit into his bank account in 1998. Although her father died in November 2001, Thomas made no effort to notify the Social Security Administration or cancel the direct deposit.

Over more than a decade, Thomas, who lives in Lemon Grove, allowed an additional $170,000 in benefits to be deposited into her deceased father's bank account, and then repeatedly transferred the money for her own personal use, according to Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Hill.

As part of her plea agreement, Thomas has agreed to repay all the money that they stole from the Social Security Administration, but she still faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

She is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 27 and is currently out of custody on bail pending sentencing.

By City News Service/Image via Shutterstock