Passaic County Woman Admits to Fraudulently Obtaining Over $144,000 in Social Security Benefits

NEWARK, N.J. - A Passaic County, New Jersey woman admitted that she defrauded the Social Security Administration by improperly obtaining over $144,000.00 in Social Security survivor benefits, Acting U.S. Attorney and Special Attorney Alina Habba announced.

Joan Charnecky, 60, of West Milford, New Jersey, pled guilty on September 10, 2025, before Senior U.S. District Judge Katharine S. Hayden in Newark federal court to an Information charging her with theft of public money.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

The Social Security Administration provided widow's insurance benefits to Charnecky's mother. Those benefits were paid monthly through electronic funds into Charnecky's mother's bank account. After Charnecky's mother died in 2012, Charnecky did not notify the Social Security Administration about her mother's death, and she made withdrawals of the widow's insurance benefits for her own personal use. Through an investigation by the Social Security Administration, it was determined that between 2012 and 2022, Charnecky withdrew approximately $144,768.30 in widow's insurance benefits.

The charge of theft of public money carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for January 21, 2026.

Acting U.S. Attorney and Special Attorney Habba credited special agents of the Social Security Administration - Office of the Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Amy Connelly, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea.

The government is represented by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Keith Abrams of the Narcotics/OCDETF Unit in Newark.

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Defense counsel: Joel Bacher, Esq.