Schenectady Woman Pleads Guilty to Charges Related to Theft of Social Security Benefits

ALBANY, NEW YORK - Annmarie Ditoro, age 42, of Schenectady, New York, pled guilty yesterday to multiple counts of social security fraud, announced United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Amy Connelly, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, New York Field Office.

Ditoro admitted that she stole Supplemental Security Income ("SSI") benefits and Social Security Survivor's benefits intended for her four disabled children. Ditoro was previously the representative payee for all four of her children. A representative payee is a person or organization receiving Social Security benefits on another person's behalf and tasked with ensuring the benefits are used only to support the beneficiary. Ditoro admitted that Schenectady Department of Social Services removed all four of her children from her custody in July 2022. Ditoro failed to inform the Social Security Administration of the change in custody, and she continued to receive Social Security benefits on her children's behalf. Ditoro admitted that she spent the benefits for her personal use despite knowing that she was not entitled to that money. In total, Ditoro stole over $25,000 in benefit payments intended for her children.

Ditoro faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 5 years, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised of up to 3 years. She will also be required to pay restitution to the Social Security Administration. A defendant's sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors. Sentencing is scheduled for January 31, 2025, in Albany.

This case was investigated by the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General and is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul J. Tuck.