A Raleigh business owner received a 15-month jail sentence on charges of Social Security fraud, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina announced, Mary Elizabeth Workman, 51, had been duping the government by collecting disability benefits while simultaneously running a successful business, she pleaded guilty to one count of theft of government funds and was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle according to details from a statement obtained by the United States Attorney's Office.
"Stealing from the system is stealing from those who truly need it," U.S. Attorney Michael F. Easley Jr. was quoted in the announcement, indicating Workman's fraudulent actions, which amounted over $200,000 in unlawfully acquired disability benefits, while she meticulously ran her tax refund business without reporting the income which breeched the terms of her Social Security; her case serves as a clear reminder of the office's dedication to upholding the integrity of taxpayer funded programs and their commitment does not waver, as per United States Attorney's Office reprort.
Workman's scheme involved receiving benefits she was not entitled to from 2008 through 2023 by claiming she was unable to work due to multiple medical conditions despite the fact she owned and operated her business throughout this period, she failed to disclose her business income to the Social Security Administration, thereby illegally drawing monthly disability benefits according to the case details disclosed during her sentencing.
The investigation led by the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, laid bare the extent of Workman's deceit Hannibal “Mike” Ware, Acting Inspector General for Social Security stated, "This 15-month prison sentence holds Mary Elizabeth Workman accountable for theft of government funds." and reinforced their stance on aggressively pursuing those who engage in fraud against the Administration; the prosecution was led by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Lisa K. Labresh, whose efforts were crucial in bringing the case to a closure, as detailed by the United States Attorney's Office.
