Woman pleads guilty to Social Security theft

A 48-year-old Hungry Horse woman pleaded guilty April 30 in federal court in Missoula to a charge of theft of government money for taking supplemental security income (SSI) she was not entitled to receive.

Yvonne Owens-Morris faces up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 18. She is currently released on special conditions. The case was investigated by the Social Security Administration.

According to the U.S. Attorney for the District of Montana, when Owens-Morris applied for SSI on May 8, 2008, she reported receiving $300 per month from her parents, using food stamps, and having two vehicles worth $4,500 together and $100 in her bank account.

The Social Security Administration conducted eligibility reviews of Owens-Morris in September, October and December 2009. Each time, Owens-Morris reported owning assets worth less than $9,000 and receiving less than $600 per month.

Federal investigators, however, found that Owens-Morris had deeded the Dumas Walker Cowboy Bar in Kalispell to her sister in May 2007 and then using a power of attorney from her sister sold the property in January 2008 for $200,000. Her sister allegedly sent Owens-Morris $87,000 from January through June 2008.

Owens-Morris allegedly received a check for $101,000 in July 2008 from an insurance settlement after she fell and injured her back at her mother-in-law’s home. Her UBS investment account allegedly held $2,666 from July 2008 through June 2009. And after her mother died, Owens-Morris allegedly deeded a property in Refugio, Texas, worth $47,170 to herself and her father.

According to federal investigators, Owens-Morris received $24,622 in SSI benefit and $40,000 in Montana Medicaid benefits to which she was not entitled.