Pennsylvania Woman Sentenced Probation, Ordered $116K Restitution Social Security Fraud

Teresa Sabolek, a 68-year-old woman from Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to one year of probation and ordered to repay $116,758 after being convicted of Social Security fraud and theft of government property. Sabolek had falsely claimed beginning in May 2009 that her husband did not live with her, which made her eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits that she was otherwise not entitled to receive. Despite submitting a statement under penalty of perjury in June 2022 reiterating this claim, an investigation by the Social Security Administration's Office of the Inspector General revealed that her husband shared the same address, had a driver's license, mailing address, and registered vehicles linked to the Belle Vernon home, and contributed to mortgage and utility payments. The fraud was uncovered when a clerk noticed a sworn statement from Sabolek’s husband indicating that he lived with her, prompting a home visit by agents in December 2024 that confirmed his residency. Sabolek received these undeserved benefits for over 13 years, from 2009 to 2022, resulting in the court-ordered restitution and probation. The case highlights the SSA’s ongoing efforts to detect and prosecute fraudulent claims to protect government resources.