Gulfport, Miss. - Virginia Ann Edelman a/k/a Ginger Edelman, 49, of Picayune, Mississippi, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden to 21 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for theft of government funds, U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis announced today. She was also ordered to pay $75,325.00 in restitution to the U. S. Social Security Administration and to perform 120 hours of community service.
In May, 2014, a jury found Edelman guilty of stealing $75,325.00 of her deceased mother’s Social Security Survivor’s Insurance Benefits Program (“SIB") benefit payments. The investigation revealed the theft occurred from May of 2000 through October of 2011.
This case was investigated by agents of the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General - Office of Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Jones.
If you believe you have been a victim of fraud from a person or an organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of storm victims, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud toll free at:
(866) 720-5721
You can also fax information to:
(225) 334-4707
or e-mail it to:
disaster@leo.gov
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Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
