Woman Pleads Guilty To Stealing Dead Dad’s Benefits
A Texas woman, whose father’s remains were found in a storage unit in Lexington, pleaded guilty Thursday to stealing his Social Security benefits.
The U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas said Judith Broughton, 49, admitted that between June 1990 and August 2011, she stole $245,226 in Social Security Retirement Insurance benefits meant for her father, Luther Broughton.
Officials said Broughton admitted to opening a joint checking account in her father’s name and had his benefits deposited into the account.
During her plea hearing, Broughton also admitted to leasing a storage unit at Econo Self Storage in Lexington in 1990 after his death. She continued to make payments on the storage unit in her father’s name from 1990-2014, according to federal officials.
Luther Broughton’s mummified remains were found in the storage unit on January 8, 2014.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Judith Broughton also had a joint account with her mother, Mary Elizabeth Broughton. Her mother’s Social Security benefits were being deposited into that joint account.
Investigators said a safety check was conducted on Mary Elizabeth Broughton but they can not locate her.
No sentencing date has been scheduled for Broughton.
She faces up to 10 years in prison.
The U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas said Judith Broughton, 49, admitted that between June 1990 and August 2011, she stole $245,226 in Social Security Retirement Insurance benefits meant for her father, Luther Broughton.
Officials said Broughton admitted to opening a joint checking account in her father’s name and had his benefits deposited into the account.
During her plea hearing, Broughton also admitted to leasing a storage unit at Econo Self Storage in Lexington in 1990 after his death. She continued to make payments on the storage unit in her father’s name from 1990-2014, according to federal officials.
Luther Broughton’s mummified remains were found in the storage unit on January 8, 2014.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Judith Broughton also had a joint account with her mother, Mary Elizabeth Broughton. Her mother’s Social Security benefits were being deposited into that joint account.
Investigators said a safety check was conducted on Mary Elizabeth Broughton but they can not locate her.
No sentencing date has been scheduled for Broughton.
She faces up to 10 years in prison.
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