Tampa Woman Charged in Fraud Scheme to Obtain Social Security and Pension Benefits by Disposing of Aunt’s Body to Conceal her Death

Tampa, Florida - Rebecca Stewart Vaughn (64, Tampa) has been charged by federal indictment with four counts of wire fraud and one count of theft of government money. If convicted, Vaughn faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on each wire fraud count and up to 10 years for the theft of government money. The indictment also notifies Vaughn that the United States is seeking the forfeiture of more than $75,000, the proceeds of the charged criminal conduct. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.

According to the indictment, Vaughn engaged in a fraud scheme to obtain Social Security benefits and City of New York pension benefits that did not belong to her. The benefits were being paid to Vaughn's aunt, J.C. When J.C. died, Vaughn concealed her death by wrapping J.C.'s body in layers of blankets, sheets, and plastic bags, placing her body in a mattress bag, and disposing of the body in a wooded lot adjacent to a wastewater treatment plant. Vaughn also falsely represented to law enforcement officers that J.C. was still alive. By concealing J.C.'s death, Vaughn fraudulently induced the Social Security Administration and the Teacher's Retirement System of the City of New York to continue to pay monthly benefits for J.C., which Vaughn then spent on herself and others.

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

This case was investigated by the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General and the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Del Mastro.

On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump's Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.