Joshua S. Levy, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts
A woman from Fall River has admitted guilt in a Boston federal court for the theft of Social Security benefits meant for her child. Nancy Taylor, aged 45, confessed to one count of public funds theft. Chief U.S. District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV has set her sentencing for May 12, 2025. The indictment was made by a federal grand jury in April 2024.
Between May 2016 and May 2022, Taylor misappropriated approximately $86,994.58 in Social Security benefits designated for her minor child. In August 2014, upon applying to receive these benefits as a representative payee for her child, the Social Security Administration (SSA) had informed Taylor of her duty to report if the child left her custody. However, after losing custody in May 2016, she failed to notify SSA and continued receiving benefits by updating contact information in October 2021.
Further deception occurred when Taylor visited an SSA field office in June 2022 to reactivate benefit receipt using fraudulent forms claiming the child's residency with her and stating that all received funds were spent on the child's care. Contrary to these claims, most stolen funds were used for personal expenses.
The charge carries a potential sentence of up to ten years imprisonment, three years supervised release, and fines reaching $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss—whichever is greater. Sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge based on U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Amy Connelly from the U.S. Social Security Administration's Office of Inspector General announced this development. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Nagelberg is handling prosecution duties.
