Barre Woman Sentenced for Social Security Fraud
Jennifer Valley, 51, was sentenced in federal court in Worcester for stealing over $100,000 in Social Security benefits.
2 reports on this incident · first at Sep 1, 2026, 6:20 p.m. ET
This case is not concluded. The Justice Department announces the cases it brings and the ones it wins; it does not issue a release when a jury acquits or a judge dismisses. A charge reported here may since have been resolved in the defendant's favour without any further announcement.
We last searched for new coverage of this at Sep 1, 2026, 3:38 p.m. ET — checked 5h ago.
Earlier reports
Sep 1, 2026, 6:20 p.m. ETFirst report
Barre Woman Sentenced for Social Security Fraud
A Barre woman was sentenced on Aug. 28, 2026, in federal court in Worcester for stealing over $100,000 in Social Security benefits, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts. The announcement was made on Sept. 1, 2026.
Jennifer Valley, 51, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman to one day of prison deemed served and three years of supervised release with 10 months of home confinement. Valley was also ordered to pay $100,218 in restitution. In May 2026, Valley pleaded guilty to one count of theft of government money after being charged in April 2026.
From October 2022 through August 2025, Valley stole approximately $100,218 in Social Security retirement benefits intended for a beneficiary who had died and with whom she had previously lived. Prior to the beneficiary's death, Valley had been appointed as the beneficiary's representative payee to manage their Social Security benefits and provide regular accountings to the Social Security Administration (SSA). Valley failed to report the beneficiary's death to SSA. Instead, in June 2023, she submitted a representative payee report to SSA stating that all benefits received during the previous 12 months had been spent for the benefit of the deceased, including $23,157 in funds improperly paid after death during that period. Additionally, in December 2023, Valley updated the deceased's mailing address with SSA to her new address to conceal the beneficiary's death.
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. Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Nagelberg of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.
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Revision history
- Version 11 Sept 2026, 22:22current
First published.
- Version 11 Sept 2026, 22:20current
First published.
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