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74-Year-Old Philadelphia Woman Sent To Prison For Social Security Fraud

By Tony Hanson

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A Philadelphia grandmother is going to federal prison for Social Security fraud.

74-year-old Nancy Gonzalez, a first time offender, was sentenced Monday to six months in prison -- and then six months house arrest after she admitted stealing more than $155,000 in Social Security checks sent to her mother after her mother's death in 1994.

Prosecutor Thomas Moshang argued deterrence is particularly important in this case, because the defendant, who retired in 2007, had a job with the city making $60,000 a year, and kept this money for one reason...greed.

"And as the judge pointed out, there really weren't any strong, mitigating effects or justifications for why the money was taken other than living beyond her means," Moshang said. "That was actually a statement made by the defendant."

Gonzalez has been ordered to report to prison in September.

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