Gwinn woman pleads guilty to Social Security fraud

Photo courtesy of Greg Peterson/Upper Peninsula Breaking News

A Gwinn woman has pleaded guilty to Social Security fraud in U.S. District Court in Marquette.

Brenda Savola, 67, admitted to one federal felony of supplemental Social Security income fraud. The charge involved the theft of nearly $50,000 between 1999 and 2012. Federal prosecutors dropped two other felony counts under the terms of a plea agreement.

Savola told Judge Timothy Greeley that she was involved in several schemes to convince Social Security officials that her husband had moved out, causing her to be living alone. Her husband’s income made her ineligible for supplemental Social Security benefits.

Savola’s sentencing is scheduled for October 23rd. She faces up to five years in prison, but Judge Greeley said he did not intend to place Savola behind bars. He did, however, order her to pay $46,900 in restitution.