HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Virginia Hayden, age 69, of Carlisle, Pennsylvania, was indicted on February 3, 2021, by a federal grand jury on 14 counts of wire fraud related to the theft of social security funds.
According to Acting U.S. Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, the indictment alleges that Hayden failed to notify the Social Security Administration that her husband was missing and continued to receive his social security funds between 2011 and 2017. The total amount of the funds she improperly collected was $113,471. Hayden was charged with the murder of her husband in the York County Court of Common Pleas in April of 2019. Those charges are still awaiting trial.
The matter was investigated by the Social Security Administration’s Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott R. Ford is prosecuting the case.
Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
The maximum penalty for this offense is up to 240 years in prison, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.
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| URL | |
|---|---|
| Component | USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle; |
| OIG | Social Security Administration OIG |