28 Months In Prison For Former Middletown Woman In Benefits Theft Case

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — A former Middletown resident was sentenced to 28 months in prison for Medicare and Social Security fraud, according to U.S. District Attorney Philip R. Sellinger.

Martha Aguilar, who now lives in South Carolina, previously pleaded guilty to a count of Social Security fraud, Sellinger said.

"From November 2004 to September 2016, Aguilar collected $136,879 in Social Security benefits and $644,605 in Medicare benefits that she was not entitled to receive," Sellinger said in a news release. "Aguilar indicated on forms to the Social Security Administration (SSA) that she was completely disabled and unable to work, but continued working as a paralegal."

Aguilar, 60, will also have to pay $781,484 in restitution, and be on two years' supervised release when she is out of prison, Sellinger's office said.

"Aguilar also fraudulently applied for and received temporary disability from the state of New Jersey totaling $13,622, and unemployment benefits from the state of New Jersey totaling $103,738, which she concealed from the SSA," Sellinger said. "In all, Aguilar fraudulently failed to report to SSA $488,870 in benefits and income."

Chief U.S. District Judge Freda L. Wolfson handed down the sentence on June 15, Sellinger said.