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A Thompsontown woman has been sentenced to six months of home confinement after authorities uncovered a years-long scheme to illegally obtain Social Security and housing benefits. The sentencing, handed down by U.S. District Judge Jennifer P. Wilson on May 22, follows an investigation that revealed the woman received federal funds she was not entitled to over an extended period.
Doris Santana, 54, was found to have defrauded two major federal assistance programs. Investigators determined that between February 2008 and December 2021, she participated in the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program. From May 2018 to September 2024, she also received Supplemental Security Income from the Social Security Administration. Despite marrying in April 2011, Santana failed to report her marital status and household income to either agency, rendering her ineligible for both forms of assistance.
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By concealing her marriage and the associated financial support from her spouse, Santana improperly received over $141,000 in public funds. As part of the sentence, she was ordered to repay the full amount in restitution. Federal officials emphasized that her actions constituted theft of public money, which could have otherwise supported eligible recipients in need.
The case was jointly investigated by the Offices of Inspector General for the Social Security Administration and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David C. Williams on behalf of the Middle District of Pennsylvania.
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Santana will serve her sentence under home confinement, avoiding prison time but remaining under strict supervision. The case serves as a reminder of federal efforts to identify and prosecute benefit fraud, particularly when recipients fail to report changes in household composition or income.
Article by multiple RFHC contributors, based upon information from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Middle District of Pennsylvania
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