Sacramento woman pleads guilty to collecting deceased grandmothers Social Security benefits for 17 years

September 11, 2018 |  

Even though her grandmother passed away years ago, a Sacramento women kept her alive for another 17 years, at least with the Social Security Administration. 

In an agreement announced yesterday by the U.S. Attorney's officer for the Eastern District of California, Shonda Mayshack, 42, of Sacramento, pleaded guilty today to theft of government property.

Evidence produced in the investigation leading the plea showed when Mayshack's grandmother died in May 2001, she did not report it to SSA, and SSA continued to mail benefit checks to the grandmother’s address where Mayshack also resided. Between the time of the grandmothers death and February 2017. knowing that she was not entitled to the benefits, Mayshack stole approximately $247,933 of her grandmother’s Social Security benefits for her own use, 

As part of the scheme, Mayshack forged her her grandmother’s signature for deposit into her own bank account. Additionally, she also called Social Security posing as her grandmother to update her address to continue collecting benefits. 

This case is the product of an investigation by the Office of the Inspector General Social Security Administration. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. Artuz is prosecuting the case. Mayshack is scheduled to be sentenced by November 26, 2018 and faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.