A Spencer resident entered a guilty plea to bank fraud charges, according to federal court records in Worcester. The U.S. Attorney's Office announced that Gina Llerena-Donohue, 62, admitted to defrauding the Social Security Administration out of nearly $42,000 in benefits over a 15-year span.
The deception began after the death of a Social Security beneficiary in January 2006, for whom Llerena-Donohue had power of attorney. She continued to collect the deceased's benefits until May 2021, failing to notify both the Social Security Administration and the associated bank of the beneficiary's demise. Instead, Llerena-Donohue used the funds through various counter cash withdrawals, supplementing her income in a way many would find unconscionable.
In an attempt to sustain her scheme, Llerena-Donohue submitted four fraudulent affidavits between 2018 and 2019, erroneously asserting to the bank that the power of attorney remained valid despite the death of the principal. Her conviction could lead to as much as 30 years in prison, according to the federal sentencing guidelines. Judge Margaret R. Guzman has set the sentencing for July 23, 2025, leaving a period of uncertainty for the accused and her family.
Leah B. Foley, United States Attorney, and Amy Connelly, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Social Security Administration's Office of Inspector General, were the ones to make the announcement of Llerena-Donohue's guilty plea. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Nagelberg of the Major Crimes Unit is tasked with prosecuting the case, ensuring justice is served in instances of financial deception such as these.
