Schenectady Woman Sentenced for Stealing More Than $95,000 in Social Security Benefits

From the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of New York:

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Jody Lyons, age 54, of Schenectady, New York, was sentenced on Friday to 2 years of probation for stealing Social Security benefits paid into her deceased mother’s bank account.

The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon and John F. Grasso, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration (SSA), Office of the Inspector General, New York Field Office.

As part of her earlier guilty plea, Lyons admitted that beginning in January 2015 (the month of her mother’s death), Lyons withdrew and spent Social Security benefits that continued to be deposited into her mother’s bank account until August 2018, when the SSA learned of the death and benefit payments ceased.  Lyons also admitted that she withdrew and spent her mother’s Social Security benefits despite knowing that the benefits were intended for her mother, and that Lyons was not entitled to the money.

United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino also ordered Lyons to pay full restitution to the SSA in the amount of $95,961 and to complete 50 hours of community service.

This case was investigated by the SSA Office of the Inspector General and prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian S. LaRochelle.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Jody Lyons, age 54, of Schenectady, New York, was sentenced on Friday to 2 years of probation for stealing Social Security benefits paid into her deceased mother’s bank account.

The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon and John F. Grasso, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration (SSA), Office of the Inspector General, New York Field Office.

As part of her earlier guilty plea, Lyons admitted that beginning in January 2015 (the month of her mother’s death), Lyons withdrew and spent Social Security benefits that continued to be deposited into her mother’s bank account until August 2018, when the SSA learned of the death and benefit payments ceased.  Lyons also admitted that she withdrew and spent her mother’s Social Security benefits despite knowing that the benefits were intended for her mother, and that Lyons was not entitled to the money.

United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino also ordered Lyons to pay full restitution to the SSA in the amount of $95,961 and to complete 50 hours of community service.

This case was investigated by the SSA Office of the Inspector General and prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian S. LaRochelle.