A Poland, Maine, woman was sentenced to pay $165,878 in restitution on Thursday after she pleaded guilty in May to Social Security fraud.
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According to court documents, Susie Files, 65, of Poland, lied to both the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) for over a decade.
She reportedly falsely claimed that she and her husband lived separately when filling out multiple benefit eligibility reviews, despite knowing that she was required to disclose that information.
Her husband’s presence in the household would have affected her eligibility for benefits.
Investigators first discovered the fraud in 2023, and Files admitted that she did, in fact, live with her husband.
Peter Files, her husband, faced his own legal troubles when he pleaded guilty in May to MaineCare and SNAP fraud and was ordered to repay $45,615.
In addition to the fines, Susie Files was also sentenced to 36 months of probation.
Her case was investigated by the SSA Office of the Inspector General and the Maine DHHS Fraud Investigation and Recovery Unit.
