Kentucky Woman Found Guilty of Defrauding SSA
September 06, 2013
A Whitley County woman found guilty of defrauding Social Security of more than $84,000 in benefits will be formally sentenced Sept. 19 in federal court.
Following a trial lasting more than two days, 60-year-old Novella Lawson, of Siler, was found guilty Thursday on the three counts set down in the indictment.
She faces up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000 and up to three years of supervised release. In addition, the court may order her to repay the money $50,841, she has been found guilty of taking.
Lawson’s husband, Doyle, who was named in the case in a superseding indictment filed in May, was found not guilty in the case.
Novella Lawson was indicted in Aug. 2012 on charges of concealing facts with intent to obtain and continue to receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI), concealing information, causing the Department of Medicaid Services (DMS) to overpay healthcare benefits and retaining stolen property with intent to convert it to her own use.
According to the indictment, Lawson applied for SSI and Medicaid benefits in Jan. 2006 Over the next six-and-a-half years, Lawson failed to disclose that she lived with and received financial support from her husband.
In December, Lawson’s attorney requested that she undergo a court-ordered psychiatric evaluation.
In March, U.S. Magistrate Hanly A. Ingram ruled that Lawson was competent to stand trial.
A Whitley County woman found guilty of defrauding Social Security of more than $84,000 in benefits will be formally sentenced Sept. 19 in federal court.
Following a trial lasting more than two days, 60-year-old Novella Lawson, of Siler, was found guilty Thursday on the three counts set down in the indictment.
She faces up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000 and up to three years of supervised release. In addition, the court may order her to repay the money $50,841, she has been found guilty of taking.
Lawson’s husband, Doyle, who was named in the case in a superseding indictment filed in May, was found not guilty in the case.
Novella Lawson was indicted in Aug. 2012 on charges of concealing facts with intent to obtain and continue to receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI), concealing information, causing the Department of Medicaid Services (DMS) to overpay healthcare benefits and retaining stolen property with intent to convert it to her own use.
According to the indictment, Lawson applied for SSI and Medicaid benefits in Jan. 2006 Over the next six-and-a-half years, Lawson failed to disclose that she lived with and received financial support from her husband.
In December, Lawson’s attorney requested that she undergo a court-ordered psychiatric evaluation.
In March, U.S. Magistrate Hanly A. Ingram ruled that Lawson was competent to stand trial.