Pompano Beach, Florida – A Pompano Beach woman has been convicted of taking more than $152,000 in Social Security retirement payments that continued arriving in her great-aunt’s bank account after the relative died.

A federal jury found Asha Anderson, 48, guilty of theft of government funds and Social Security fraud following a six-day trial in the Southern District of Florida.

According to court records and evidence presented during the trial, the Social Security Administration was unaware that Anderson’s great-aunt had died. As a result, the agency continued sending monthly retirement benefits directly to her bank account.

Anderson repeatedly accessed the account between April 2017 and December 2022, withdrawing money she was not entitled to receive. Over that period, she made hundreds of cash withdrawals at ATMs, primarily in Pompano Beach and Coconut Creek.

“Social Security is funded by the hard work of American taxpayers and exists to support those who are lawfully entitled to its benefits,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “For nearly six years, Asha Anderson stole more than $152,000 in benefits intended for her deceased great-aunt. Today’s jury verdict makes clear that those who steal from programs Americans depend on will be investigated, prosecuted, and held accountable.”

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Anderson faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison for theft of government funds and up to five years for Social Security fraud. Her sentence will be determined by a federal district court judge after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Those maximum penalties do not establish the sentence she will receive.

“Ms. Asha Anderson knowingly diverted more than $152,000 in Social Security benefits intended for her late great aunt and her conviction protects Social Security funds while holding accountable those who misuse them,” said Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Jermaine Jack of the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General, Atlanta Field Division. “I commend both our investigators and partners in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their diligent effort in bringing this case to a successful conclusion.”

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The Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General is investigating the case. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Nikole Hiciano and General Crimes Fraud Unit Chief Germaine Corprew are prosecuting it, while Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Zack is handling asset forfeiture.

Court records are available through the Southern District of Florida under case number 25-cr-60312.