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South Dakota Woman Accused of Hiding Husband’s Death To Keep Collecting His Social Security Disability Payments
Oct 23, 2026, 11:45 UTC
Markets
Oct 23, 2026, 11:45 UTC
Oct 23, 2026, 11:45 UTC1 min read
A South Dakota woman is accused of hiding her husband’s death from the government so she could keep collecting his Social Security disability payments.
Beth Miley, 51, and her alleged accomplice, Jason Miley, 54, both of Pierre, have been indicted on charges of conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to commit bank fraud and bank fraud, says the U.S. Department of Justice.
Beth Miley is also charged with theft of government funds and Social Security fraud.
The indictment alleges she concealed the February 5th, 2023 death of her husband, a Social Security disability beneficiary, so she could keep receiving his monthly payments.
Prosecutors allege that between January 2024 and May of this year, the pair made monthly withdrawals of those payments from a bank account neither of them held or owned.
Court documents show Beth married Jason Miley in January 2024, nearly a year after her husband died, reports KELOLAND News.
Both defendants pleaded not guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on October 15th and were released on bond.
Their trial is set for December 15th.
If convicted, they face up to 30 years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release and a $100 special assessment, and restitution may also be ordered.
Says Jacques Hansen, acting special agent-in-charge with the Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General,
“The defendants are alleged to have concealed a beneficiary’s death to continue receiving Social Security disability benefits.”
The charges are accusations, and both defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
