BROOKLYN, NY — A Brooklyn woman was arraigned this week for allegedly collecting Social Security benefits intended for her deceased mother, totaling over $130,000. District Attorney Eric Gonzalez announced that Katrina McCloud, 52, faces charges of grand larceny and filing false documents.
“This defendant allegedly took advantage of her mother’s death to steal from a program that provides earned benefits to retirees and their families,” Gonzalez stated. He emphasized the importance of protecting public funds and pursuing justice for those who exploit social safety net programs.
McCloud served as her mother’s Representative Payee for Social Security benefits before her mother’s death. Prosecutors allege she failed to notify the Social Security Administration and continued to collect approximately $1,000 monthly from 2012 to 2024, amassing a total of $132,528.
The investigation revealed that McCloud filed false Representative Payee Reports, which are required to verify how benefit funds are used. The reports indicated that her mother was still alive and that the funds were being utilized for her benefit.
Authorities thanked Special Agent Mark Balsam of the Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General and Detective Michael McCaffrey of the New York City Police Department for their roles in the investigation.
McCloud was arraigned before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Michael Kitsis and released without bail. She is scheduled to return to court on November 19.