A Spencer woman has been charged in a federal court in Worcester for allegedly scheming to fraudulently obtain Social Security benefits. Gina Llerena-Donohue, 62, faces one count of bank fraud and will appear in federal court at a later date.
According to the charging document, from February 2006 through May 2021, Llerena-Donohue is accused of obtaining approximately $41,954.20 in Social Security benefits fraudulently. She allegedly held a power of attorney for a deceased beneficiary and did not report their death to the Social Security Administration or the bank where benefits were deposited. Instead, she reportedly accessed these funds through several counter cash withdrawals and submitted four false affidavits to the bank claiming that the power of attorney was still valid because it had not been terminated by the beneficiary's death.
The charge of bank fraud could result in up to 30 years in prison, five years of supervised release, and a fine up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss. Sentencing is 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 Social Security Administration announced these charges. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Nagelberg is prosecuting this case.
It is important to note that these details are allegations contained within charging documents, and Llerena-Donohue is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
