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Area woman avoids prison for stealing dead person's benefits

  • Posted by Worcester News Aug 23 - Filed in News - #Charlton  #crime  #U.S. Attorney  #bank fraud  - 2,586 views


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    WORCESTER — A Charlton woman who collected more than $110,000 in Social Security benefits, pension payments and federal stimulus money intended for a person who had died was sentenced Thursday in federal court in Worcester.

    Gina M. Cummings, 61, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman to 1 day in prison, deemed served, and 3 years of supervised release, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for Massachusetts. Cummings was also ordered to pay $110,428 in restitution.

    Cummings pleaded guilty in May to a count of bank fraud after being arrested and charged in December.

    Federal prosecutors said Cummings fraudulently obtained approximately $110,428 in Social Security benefits, private pension payments and COVID Economic Impact Payments between January 2020 and July 2025.

    Cummings had access to the checkbook of a Social Security beneficiary and pension recipient who died in August 2019, prosecutors said. She did not report the person's death to the Social Security Administration, the pension plan or the bank where the payments were deposited.

    Instead, prosecutors said Cummings continued accessing money deposited into the account, forging the deceased person's name on 84 checks. She also regularly depleted money from the account through recurring bill payments.

    The case was investigated by the Social Security Administration's Office of the Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Nagelberg of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.

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