United States of America v. Deborah Bailey

Trenton, New Jersey criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with Fraudulently Obtaining Over $150,000 in Social Security Retirement Benefits

Middlesex County Woman Admits to Fraudulently Obtaining Over $150,000 in Social Security Retirement Benefits

A Middlesex County, New Jersey woman admitted she defrauded the Social Security Administration for over eight years by improperly claiming her deceased mother's Social Security retirement benefits.



Deborah Bailey, 68, of Piscataway, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Robert A. Kirsch in Trenton federal court to an Information charging her with theft of public money.



The Social Security Administration provided retirement benefits to Bailey's mother. Those benefits were paid through electronic funds into Bailey's mother's bank account. After Bailey's mother died in 2016, Bailey did not notify the Social Security Administration about her mother's death, and she made withdrawals from that bank account between 2016 and 2024. Through an investigation by the Social Security Administration, it was determined that Bailey withdrew approximately $150,903.00 in retirement benefits.



U.S. Attorney Habba credited special agents of the Social Security Administration – Office of the Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Amy Connelly, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea.