A Belle Vernon woman has been sentenced to one year of probation and ordered to pay $116,758 in restitution after being convicted of social security fraud and theft of government property. The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti.
United States District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan imposed the sentence on Teresa Sabolek, 68.
According to information presented in court, Sabolek applied for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits through the Social Security Administration (SSA) in May 2009. SSI is a needs-based program that provides monthly payments to people with disabilities or elderly individuals who have little or no income. Applicants must report their wages, assets, and living arrangements for eligibility determination.
In her application, Sabolek claimed her husband did not live with her at their Belle Vernon home. In June 2022, she submitted a signed statement under penalty of perjury stating that her husband had not lived with her since she first applied for SSI in May 2009. Also in 2022, Sabolek applied for spousal benefits on her husband’s Social Security benefits. When an SSA clerk reviewed the husband’s file, it was found that he had previously provided a sworn statement indicating he shared a residence with his wife in Belle Vernon.
An investigation by the SSA’s Office of the Inspector General revealed that the husband’s driver’s license, mailing address, and registered vehicles were all connected to the same address where Sabolek claimed to live alone for over 13 years. In December 2024, agents visited the home; the husband answered the door and it was determined he had a room there and paid mortgage and utilities. If Sabolek had reported this information to SSA, she would not have qualified for any SSI benefits. Between May 2009 and August 2022, she received $116,758 in SSI benefits for which she was not eligible.
Assistant United States Attorney Brendan J. McKenna prosecuted the case.
Acting United States Attorney Rivetti stated: “I commend the Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General for its investigation leading to this successful prosecution.”
