Florida Woman Arrested For Stealing Thousands From Her Dead Boyfriend

A woman from Summerfield, Florida, has been receiving Social Security benefits for the past couple of years. The problem with that is they aren’t meant for her, they’re for her boyfriend.  To make matters even worse, her boyfriend is dead.

The 75-year-old Rosemary Freeman was apart of a group of 12 people who were busted for stealing more than $700,000 in Social Security benefits. United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announced the filing of these federal charges against the group as a part of Operation Dead Ringer. This operation that began in the Middle District of Florida targets those who are stealing Social Security benefits unintentionally paid to beneficiaries that have already passed away.

Freeman alone collected a total of $83,488 from 2013 to 2019. She could face a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison if convicted.

United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announced the filing of federal charges in Tampa against Rosemary Freeman and 11 others charged in Operation Dead Ringer. The group of 12 was charged in 11 separate cases with cumulatively stealing more than $700,000 in Social Security benefits paid to beneficiaries who were deceased.

Gail S. Ennis, Inspector General of Social Security said, “As these charges demonstrate, stealing from SSA on behalf of a deceased beneficiary is a federal crime. We work closely with SSA and other government agencies to identify Social Security fraud and stop improper payments.”

The Social Security Administration and the Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation is working closely with federal and local law enforcement agencies to investigate the eleven separate cases. Special Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne Huyler will be prosecuting the cases along with Assistant United States Attorney Yolande Viacava and Tyrie Boyer.