Durham Woman Sentenced for Concealing Income to Receive Social Security Benefits

F.P. Report

PORTLAND, Maine: A Durham woman was sentenced yesterday in federal court for Social Security fraud, U.S. Attorney Darcie N. McElwee announced.

U.S. District Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. sentenced Carol Bourgoin, 65, to three years of probation. She was also ordered to pay $80,430.00 in restitution to the Social Security Administration (“SSA”). Bourgoin pleaded guilty on June 17, 2021.

According to court records, from about July 2009 through November 2018, Bourgoin, a recipient of Supplemental Security Income (“SSI”), concealed the presence of her husband in her household to maintain her eligibility to receive benefit payments. SSI benefits are paid to people with limited income who are blind, disabled or elderly. Bourgoin’s husband had sufficient income to render her ineligible for the benefits she received during that period. In multiple reviews of her eligibility for benefits, Bourgoin falsely represented to the SSA that she was living alone and not receiving help or money from any other person during this time. During an interview with investigators, Bourgoin admitted to concealing her living situation from SSA because she knew it would make her ineligible to receive SSI.

SSA’s Office of the Inspector General investigated the case.