Wolcott woman to repay $119,000 in stolen Social Security benefits

BURLINGTON - The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Vermont stated that on Monday, Maryann Manning, 63, of Wolcott, was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Christina Reiss to two years of probation.

Judge Reiss also ordered Manning to pay restitution to the Social Security Administration in the amount of $119,978.

Manning previously pleaded guilty to a one-count information charging her with receiving stolen government money.

According to court records, Manning's brother received disability insurance benefit payments from the Social Security Administration.

Manning's brother died in October 2015 at which time his SSA benefits should have terminated. Following his death, however, Manning collected her brother's benefits from SSA by withdrawing the money from his accounts. Manning admitted to investigators that she knew that she stole the money that did not belong to her. The total loss to the Social Security Administration was more than $119,000.

U.S. Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the investigatory efforts of the Social Security Administration's Office of the Inspector General.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Stendig. Manning was represented by attorney Robert Behrens.