Press Release  Medford Woman Indicted for Social Security, Medicare, MassHealth, and Food Stamp Fraud

Boston — A Medford woman was arrested today and charged in federal court in Boston with fraudulently receiving Social Security disability benefits, Medicare, MassHealth and Food Stamps.   

Stephanie DiPierro, 37, was charged with three counts of theft of public funds, two counts of making false statements, and one count of falsely representing a Social Security number. She will appear in federal court in Boston today at 3:45 p.m.

According to the indictment that was unsealed today, from October 2007 through May 2017, DiPierro stole $73,288 in Social Security benefits, $8,455 in Medicare benefits, $8,615 in MassHealth benefits and $17,929 in Food Stamps.  In September 2015, she falsely informed the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance that she did not have any income other than her Social Security benefits when, in fact, she was receiving income as a result of her work as a personal care attendant.  DiPierro falsely told Social Security in March 2016, while she was working as a personal care attendant, that she did not take care of any other individual.  DiPierro also falsely represented her Social Security number on a time sheet submitted in connection with her work as a personal care attendant. 

The charges of theft of public funds provide for a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater.  The charges of making false statements provide for a sentence of no greater than five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater.  The charge of false representation of a Social Security number provides for a sentence of no greater than five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting United States Attorney William D. Weinreb; Scott Antolik, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division; Phillip M. Coyne, Special Agent in Charge of the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service’s Boston Regional Office; and Suzanne M. Bump, State Auditor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, made the announcement today.  Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Burzycki of Weinreb’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the court documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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