Woman who stole federal benefits avoids prison term
April 6, 2021
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WORCESTER, Mass. (AP) A Massachusetts woman who pleaded guilty to stealing more than $90,000 in federal benefits by concealing her marriage for nearly a decade has been placed on two years of probation and ordered to pay restitution.
Rhonda Bernal, 62, of Fitchburg was sentenced Monday during a video hearing in U.S. District Court in Worcester, The Telegram & Gazette reported.
Bernal admitted in December to deceiving the government about her marriage for eight years while accepting federal benefits.
She stole more than $71,000 in Social Security benefits, more than $6,000 in MassHealth insurance benefits and about $13,500 in food stamps benefits, federal prosecutors said.
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Fitchburg woman faces more than a decade in prison for benefits theft
Woman who allegedly stole more than $90K in benefits pleads guilty in federal court
BOSTON – A Fitchburg woman who stole $71,462 in Social Security benefits, $6,444 in MassHealth benefits and $13,505 in SNAP benefits pleaded guilty in federal court Friday to related charges.
Rhonda Bernal, 62, pleaded guilty to three counts of theft of public funds and two counts of making false statements.
She was arrested and charged in the case in July of 2019, officials said.
Over a period of approximately eight years, Bernal stole more than $90,000 in benefits, according to a news release from United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling.