Freeport Woman Arrested for Fraudulently Collecting More Than $48K in Social Security Benefits

From the District Attorney, Nassau County, New York

MINEOLA, N.Y. – Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly announced that a Freeport woman was arrested Tuesday and charged with grand larceny for allegedly receiving her grandmother’s social security benefits for more than a decade after the woman died.

Alexandria Sobrane, 46, was arraigned Tuesday before Judge Marie McCormack on a charge of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree (a D felony). The defendant was released on her own recognizance and is due back in court on March 27. If convicted of the charge, the defendant faces a potential maximum of two and one-third years to seven years in prison.

“The defendant allegedly bilked the Social Security Administration out of nearly $50,000 by continuing to cash her grandmother’s check well after the woman passed away in 2008,” DA Donnelly said. “Social Security retirement benefits are meant to help Americans in their golden years, not enrich criminals. I thank our partners at the Social Security Administration’s Office of Inspector General for partnering with my office on this investigation.”

“Failing to report the death of an individual to gain control of their Social Security benefits is a federal crime,” said Gail S. Ennis, Inspector General for the Social Security Administration.  “We work closely with our law enforcement partners to identify these cases, investigate perpetrators, and seek prosecution. I thank the Nassau District Attorney’s Office for working with us and prosecuting this case.” 

DA Donnelly said that, according to the charges and investigation, the defendant’s grandmother, Hannah Sobrane, was born in 1920, and wrote children’s books under the nom de plume of Babe Power. Beginning in 1985, Hannah Sobrane began receiving Social Security retirement benefits in the name of Babe Power. After the woman passed away in 2008, her granddaughter, Alexandria Sobrane allegedly continued to cash her grandmother’s social security checks at a local grocery store. Later, Alexandria Sobrane allegedly contacted the Social Security Administration and requested that the benefits be deposited on a debit card.

The defendant allegedly received approximately $48,335 in SSA benefits that she was not entitled to. 

Sobrane was arrested Tuesday by members of the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Investigative Counsel Christine Burke of the Revenue, Auto, Insurance and Labor Crime Bureau. The defendant was represented at arraignment by the Legal Aid Society.

The charges are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless found guilty.