CROWNPOINT, NM – Marylynn Harry, 63, of Crownpoint, New Mexico, has been ordered to pay $551,436 to the Social Security Administration after an investigation from the SSA Office of the Inspector General uncovered significant fraud. Harry was sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty to the federal felony offense.
According to the plea agreement and other court documents, Harry was able to take advantage of the SSA system after the death of her father, Alfred Becenti. Her father passed away in October 1996 and was receiving retirement insurance from SSA. When he passed away, Harry took possession of the bank account Becenti’s retirement was being deposited into. “She concealed and did not notify SSA or the bank of her father’s death and continually made use of the deposited funds,” according to a statement from the US Department of Justice.
Over 25 years, Harry collected on $551,436 of her deceased father’s retirement. Court documents show, when confronted with agents from SSA’s Office of the Inspector General, Harry admitted to fraudulently collecting the money.
Harry has been ordered to pay back all of the money she collected on, and to spend five years in prison.