A woman who federal prosecutors said hid her mother’s death for nearly 20 years in order to receive Social Security benefits must pay back thousands of dollars to the government.
Dyann E. Ramo, 66, of Canton, was ordered to pay $196,067 in restitution after pleading guilty to one count of theft of government funds, U.S. Attorney BJay Pak said in a statement Wednesday.
Pak said Ramo’s mother died in 1999, but her death was not reported to Social Security. Her retirement benefits kept coming, he said.
Social Security employees tried to confirm that the woman was alive multiple times, in 2013, 2014 and 2018, according to Pak. Each time Ramo insisted that her mother was still alive, he said.
Ramo claimed a Georgia death certificate in her mother’s name was a mistake and impersonated her mother on the telephone on two separate occasions, Pak said.
“Ramo went to great lengths to conceal her theft and enjoy the benefits to which she was not entitled,” Pak said. “She continued her deception until she was indicted by a grand jury.”
Ramo pleaded guilty May 22.
In addition to the restitution payment, she was sentenced to three years probation, with the first year in home confinement. Ramo must also complete 200 hours of community service.
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