Shrewsbury Man Ordered to Pay Back Nearly $60,000 in Social Security Payments

A Shrewsbury man pleaded guilty in May to the theft of public money, and on Wednesday was ordered to repay some $57,000 in Social Security payments that were being sent to his dead mother.

George Bergstrom, 60, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman to one year of probation and was ordered to pay $57,948 in restitution to the Social Security Administration, all of which he paid on Wednesday, said the U.S. Attorney General’s office. In May 2014, Bergstrom pleaded guilty to theft of public money.

In 2009, Bergstrom’s mother died, but her Social Security payments continued to be directly deposited into a joint bank account she held with Bergstrom. From 2009 to 2013, Bergstrom continued to receive and spend his deceased mother’s benefits of more than $1,100 per month. The payments should have ceased upon the death of Bergstrom’s mother and he was not entitled to receive this money.

United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz and Scott Antolik, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations – Boston Field Division, made the announcement today. The case was prosecuted by Timothy Landry of Ortiz’s Major Crimes Unit.

The office of U.S. Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz said Wednesday that at his sentencing, George Bergstrom, 60, was ordered by U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman to one year of probation and was ordered to pay $57,948 in restitution to the Social Security Administration. He paid the amount in full Wednesday, the U.S. attorney’s office, district of Massachusetts, said.

Mr. Bergstrom pleaded guilty in May to the theft of public money. According to the U.S. attorney’s office, Mr. Bergstrom’s mother died in 2009, but her Social Security payments continued to be directly deposited into a joint bank account she held with Mr. Bergstrom. The U.S. attorney’s office said for four years Mr. Bergstrom received and spent his mother’s benefits. The payments should have ceased upon her death, according to the U.S. attorney’s office.