ALBANY, NEW YORK – Jessica Pascale, age 35, of Troy, New York, was sentenced yesterday to one-year of probation for defrauding the Social Security Administration (SSA) by diverting and stealing the benefit payments of two individuals with disabilities while she was employed as a Social Security claims representative.
The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon and John F. Grasso, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, New York Field Office.
As part of her earlier guilty plea, Pascale admitted that in July and September 2019, she used the SSA computer system to divert two separate Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefit payments intended for two SSI beneficiaries with disabilities into her personal bank account. Neither of the beneficiaries were aware of the thefts, which were discovered through internal controls at SSA. Pascale pled guilty to four felony charges: two charges of theft of government property and two charges of fraud in connection with identification information.
The court also ordered Pascale to pay full restitution to SSA, as well as a fine of $1,000.
This case was investigated by the SSA Office of the Inspector General and was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian S. LaRochelle.
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| Component | USAO - New York, Northern; |
| OIG | Social Security Administration OIG |