Hyannis Woman Sentenced in Social Security Thefts

A Hyannis woman was sentenced on Thursday to federal prison for stealing almost $75,000 in disability checks from the Social Security Administration (SSA).

United States District Judge Joseph L. Tauro sentenced Sylvia Taylor, 51, to 15 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Taylor was ordered to pay restitution to the SSA.

In October 2011, Taylor pleaded guilty to three counts of theft of government property for taking $74,643 in disability benefits.

Between 1992 and 2010, Taylor had relationships with two different men who were entitled to Social Security disability payments. From these relationships, Taylor had three children who were determined by the SSA to be eligible for auxiliary disability benefits through their fathers. Because the children were minors, Taylor became their representative payee and received the payments on their behalf.

Soon after the benefits started, each of the three children began living with others, making Taylor no longer eligible to be their representative payee. Taylor never notified the SSA, and for several years, she continued to receive the benefits and use them for her own purposes

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

Information from a press release.