East Weymouth Woman Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud

BOSTON - An East Weymouth woman pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to fraudulently obtaining Social Security benefits.

Debora A. Siler, 68, pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud. U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin scheduled sentencing for Dec. 15, 2025. Siler was charged in August 2025.

Siler fraudulently obtained approximately $61,685.13 in Social Security benefits from June 2015 through September 2020. Siler had access to the checkbook and debit card of a Social Security beneficiary who died in May 2015. Instead of reporting the beneficiary's death to the Social Security Administration or the bank where the benefits were deposited, Siler accessed the improperly paid benefits by forging the deceased beneficiary's name on several checks and regularly depleting the account funds through debit card transactions.

The charge of bank fraud provides for a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, five years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Amy Connelly, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division made the announcement. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Nagelberg of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.