Acton Woman Sentenced For Stealing Social Security Benefits

ACTON, MA — A former Acton woman was sentenced for stealing Social security benefits that were intended for her children — the were no longer in her custody. According to the Department of Justice, Elizabeth Smith, 40, currently of Pawtucket, RI, stole more than $74,000 in benefits.

Smith was sentenced to six months of home confinement, three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $74,464 in restitution to the Social Security Administration.

From October 2012 through October 2015, Smith stole Social Security benefits that were paid to her on behalf of her three children, according to the DOJ. In August 2014, Smith fraudulently told Social Security that she used all of the money she received on behalf of her children for their care and support. According to the DOJ, her children were no longer in her care, but in the custody of the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families. Smith stole approximately $74,464.50 in Social Security benefits.

In December 2019, Smith pleaded guilty to three counts of theft of public funds and two counts of making false statements. Smith was charged and arrested in September 2018.