A San Diego woman, Josephine Guinauli Aquino, pleaded guilty in federal court for hiding her father-in-law's death in the Philippines to illegally collect more than $175,000 in retirement benefits. Aquino, 64, admitted that she did not inform the government or the bank about her father-in-law’s demise, thus these agencies continued to deposit funds in his account until October 2025, reported the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of California.
Aquino was aware from the time of her father-in-law's death that he was receiving monthly benefits from both the Defense Finance Accounting Service and the Social Security Administration, as well as pension checks from the Nestlé Corporation. These benefits, which were to cease upon his death, were instead pocketed by Aquino, who forged at least 150 checks and endorsed and deposited his pension checks using his bank card. In addition to these frauds, Aquino also pocketed three economic impact payments during the COVID-19 pandemic meant for her deceased father-in-law.
"By stealing benefits that did not belong to her, this defendant took money away from other veterans and elderly Americans in need," said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon, tactfully pointing out the broader impact of such fraudulent actions. The Defense Criminal Investigative Service's Acting Special Agent-in-Charge John E. Helsing reflected on Aquino’s plea as "an acknowledgement of her six-year fraud scheme" that took a financial toll on American taxpayers and the integrity of government subsidy programs, as per the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The case against Aquino highlights a deliberate and extended fraud. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, she "caused an additional loss to the U.S. Department of Treasury for three economic impact payments issued during the COVID-19 pandemic," according to Christian Assaad, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the San Francisco Field Division of the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General. Aquino is slated for sentencing on February 13, 2026, before District Judge Janis L. Sammartino and faces up to ten years in prison and a $357,623 fine.
As noted by U.S. Attorney's Office, Aquino has agreed to make full restitution to the affected agencies, including the Defense Finance Accounting Service, the Social Security Administration, the Treasury Department, and the Nestle Corporation. This restitution is seen as a step towards not only resolving the immediate financial discrepancies but also serving as a cautionary tale for those who might contort familial ties for illicit gain.
