Former Middletown Woman Accused Of Lying On Student Aid Forms

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — A former Middletown woman who now lives in Allentown, PA was arrested Tuesday morning for allegedly stealing $136,879.24 in Social Security benefits and over $23,000 in federal student financial aid.

According to the indictment, from November 2004 to January 2015, Martha Aguilar, 56, a former resident of Middletown, New Jersey, collected approximately $136,879.24 in Social Security benefits that she was not entitled to receive. During that time, Aguilar indicated in forms to the Social Security Administration (SSA) that she was completely disabled and unable to work.

However, Aguilar regularly worked during that 10-year time period as a paralegal for various law firms and attorneys. 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, all of which she concealed from the SSA, federal attorneys allege. Overall, Aguilar failed to report over $470,000 in benefits and income she received from November 2004 to January 2015.

In addition, Aguilar allegedly falsified her son's applications for federal student financial aid by indicating she had no income other than social security benefits. As a result, her son was given $23,195 in federal financial aid that he was not entitled to receive.

She is facing fines and even prison time.

Photo credit: Shutterstock / Brian A Jackson