Idaho Woman Fakes Being Dead Grandmother To Get VA Benefits: U.S. Attorney

BOISE, ID - A 51-year-old woman from Emmett pleaded guilty this week to charges that she stole government money while pretending to be her own dead grandmother. According to the U.S. Attorney in Boise, Ann Payne fraudulently collected close to $100,000 in Department of Veterans Affairs benefits that were meant for her grandmother. The grandmother had been married to a veteran, and was collecting the benefits up until her death in 2009.

Payne changed her grandmother's address to her own, and on at least one occasion called the VA and pretended to her grandmother, according to federal prosecutors.

Payne is facing a charge of theft of government money, and pleaded guilty under a deal with prosecutors. Payne has not been sentenced yet, but faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Her sentencing is set for Aug. 10.

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