Middlesex County Woman Admits to Fraudulently Obtaining Over $150,000 in Social Security Retirement Benefits

U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of New Jersey

TRENTON, N.J. – A Middlesex County, New Jersey woman admitted she defrauded the Social Security Administration for over eight years by improperly claiming her deceased mother’s Social Security retirement benefits, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced.

Deborah Bailey, 68, of Piscataway, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Robert A. Kirsch in Trenton federal court to an Information charging her with theft of public money.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

The Social Security Administration provided retirement benefits to Bailey’s mother. Those benefits were paid through electronic funds into Bailey’s mother’s bank account. After Bailey’s mother died in 2016, Bailey did not notify the Social Security Administration about her mother’s death, and she made withdrawals from that bank account between 2016 and 2024. Through an investigation by the Social Security Administration, it was determined that Bailey withdrew approximately $150,903.00 in retirement benefits.

The charge of theft of public money carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for August 19, 2025.

U.S. Attorney Habba credited special agents of the Social Security Administration – Office of the Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Amy Connelly, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea.

The government is represented by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Keith Abrams of the Narcotics/OCDETF Unit in Newark.