PORTLAND, Maine — A Gray woman waived indictment Friday in U.S. District Court and admitted to receiving death benefits intended for her roommate.
Tammy J. McKenney, 49, pleaded guilty to one count of theft of public money between December 2012 and May 2014, according to the prosecution version of events to which she pleaded guilty.
McKenney’s friend, Barbara Winter, began receiving dependency and indemnity compensation from the Veterans Administration after Winter’s husband died in 1989, the court document said. In September 2001, after Winter moved in with McKenney, the two women opened a joint bank account.
At the time of Winter’s death on Dec. 8, 2012, McKenney was receiving $1,473 in VA benefits.
By pleading guilty, McKenney admitted that she did not inform the VA of Winter’s death and illegally received more than $25,000 in benefits.
McKenney is free on personal recognizance bail.
She is scheduled to be sentenced in April.
McKenney faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
She also is expected to be ordered to pay restitution to the VA.