Cherry Hill, NJ Woman Charged With Collecting Govt. Benefits of Mom Who Died 10 Years Ago
By Dan Wing
CHERRY HILL, N.J. (CBS) -- A Cherry Hill, NJ woman is facing numerous federal charges of fraud after collecting retirement and pension benefits intended for her mother, who died in 2005.
The US attorney's office says Maria Houck, 59, collected more than $54,000 in retirement and pension benefits from the Social Security Administration, and more than $110,000 from the Department of Veterans Affairs between July 2005 and August 2012.
Houck now faces 12 counts of mail fraud, two counts of theft of government funds, and one count of Social Security fraud.
If convicted, Houck will face jail time and restitution payment of more than $160,000, in addition to other possible fines.
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