A Detroit woman is going to prison for stealing more than $100,000 from the Social Security Administration and its programs.
A federal judge sentenced Vernita Alexander to 12 months and one day behind bars.
Prosecutors say the 56-year-old woman played the system for 15 years.
Between 2000 and 2015, Alexander collected disability insurance benefits and supplemental security income under one identity, while working under a second identity after fraudulently obtaining another social security number.
Over the years, Alexander repeatedly made false statements to the SSA to hide her employment from the government, according to U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade.
The scheme allowed Alexander to pocket $102,148.72 in taxpayer dollars she had no right to collect.
In addition to the prison sentence, the judge also ordered her to pay restitution.
