In a recent case of fraud, Shamari Jackson, a 32-year-old St. Louis woman, has pleaded guilty to the felony charge of stealing government funds, specifically siphoning Social Security benefits that belonged to her deceased grandmother, a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office Eastern District of Missouri disclosed.
The admission came before a U.S. District Court in St. Louis where Jackson acknowledged her wrongdoing, including the improper reporting of her grandmother and father's deaths to the Social Security Administration, resulting in the continuation of benefit deposits into her grandmother's account, from which she unlawfully withdrew $13,047; in addition to these funds, Jackson also snagged a $1,200 COVID-19-related stimulus payment intended for her late grandmother, her plea says
The consequences for such a theft could be severe, with the charge carrying up to a decade behind bars, a $250,000 fine, or both, sentencing is set for Jan. 21, 2025, as reported by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation with Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane Klocke spearheading the prosecution.
