A Berwick resident, Suzanne Hercock, has been sentenced in U.S. District Court in Portland for committing Social Security fraud. Judge Nancy Torresen handed down a sentence of four years of probation and mandated that Hercock repay $118,251 in restitution. Hercock had previously entered a guilty plea on May 24, 2024.

Court documents revealed that between December 2008 and February 2020, Hercock deceived the Social Security Administration (SSA) by misrepresenting her living situation. She falsely claimed that she lived separately from her husband to obtain Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments intended for their children. Despite knowing the requirements to report her husband's presence and income, which would have impacted her eligibility for benefits, she failed to do so during multiple benefit eligibility reviews.

The case was investigated by the SSA’s Office of the Inspector General.