PORTLAND — A Rumford woman was sentenced to three years of probation with six months of home confinement for Social Security fraud, U.S. Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II said in a statement Wednesday.

 

Marie Angel Michaud, formerly Marie Angel Broad, 43, was sentenced in U.S. District Court and ordered to pay $19,978 in restitution, according to the statement.

Michaud pleaded guilty April 22.

According to court documents, in January 2002, Michaud was granted and began receiving Supplemental Security Income benefits.

SSI pays benefits to persons who are aged, blind or disabled and who have proven financial need. Recipients of SSI are responsible for reporting material changes in their situation, such as changes in their household composition and marital status, according to the statement.

In November of 2010, Broad married but did not report that change to the Social Security Administration. Thereafter, during periodic redeterminations for continued eligibility for benefits, she did not disclose her marital status and falsely stated that she was not married. As a result, she received benefits to which she was not entitled, according to the statement.

In pronouncing sentence, Judge Jon Levy observed that Social Security fraud is costly for the public and for government.

The case was investigated by the Social Security Administration’s Office of Inspector General.