Florida woman pleads guilty to theft of deceased father’s Social Security benefits

FLORIDA – A Florida woman has pleaded guilty to the theft of her deceased father’s Social Security benefits, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida (USAO) has announced

According to the USAO, Dawn Rae Dempsey, 52, of Beverly Hills, Fla., has pleaded guilty to theft of government funds. Dempsey faces up to 10 years in federal prison. She had been indicted on September 13, 2022. Her sentencing hearing is scheduled for March 9, 2023.

According to court documents, Dempsey’s late father received monthly benefit payments from the Security Administration (SSA) Retirement and Survivors Insurance (RSI). Her father reportedly passed away in November 2015.

Dempsey allegedly did not notify the SSA of her father’s death, resulting in benefit payments being electronically deposited into his bank account. From December 3, 2015, until February 3, 2021, the USAO said SSA deposited 63 payments totaling $112,661.

Dempsey reportedly withdrew the funds and used them for her own expenses. Allegedly, she also took more than $167,000 in Coast Guard retirement benefits that had been deposited into the same account. By March 2021, the USAO said the account was overdrawn. When confronted by investigators, Dempsey reportedly admitted to stealing the money.

The case was investigated by the Social Security Administration – Office of the Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk.