Elderly University Place Woman Convicted of Social Security Fraud

A 72 year-old University Place woman who illegally collected her dead parent's Social Security benefits plead guilty to theft of government funds last month, according to U.S. Attorney Jenny A. Durkan.  

Claudia Ruth Greenamyer fraudulently collected $219,960 following the death of her mother in 1996 and her father in 2000, according to the U.S. Attorney General. The payments were made to bank accounts Greenamyer held jointly with her parents. She continued to use the money without telling Social Security her parents were deceased and forged signatures to continue the theft.

When confronted by agents in February 2013, she claimed to have seen her parents one month earlier. Greenamyer pleaded guilty to theft of government funds on May 15, 2013 and is awaiting sentencing.