HUNTINGTON -- A Winfield woman has been sentenced to 40 months in prison for identity theft and other charges, and has been ordered to pay more than $100,000 in restitution.

Ramona Mack, 40, was sentenced earlier this week by U.S. District Judge Robert C. Chambers.

Mack pleaded guilty in July to charges of aggravated identity theft and theft of government benefits. She admitted to fraudulently collecting Social Security benefits to which she was not entitled. She also admitted to using someone else's identity to get a job and credit.

The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Social Security Administration.

According to court documents, Mack collected Social Security disability benefits beginning in July 1994. The investigation showed that Mack used the Social Security number of someone with a similar-sounding name to collect those benefits so she would not have to report her income to the Social Security Administration. SSA disability payments are based on a person's income.

Mack also used the victim's Social Security number on employment applications that she submitted to multiple employers. As a result of her criminal conduct, Mack received disability benefits to which she was not entitled, the court papers state.

Mack also used personal identifying information of others to get a home mortgage, a car loan, credit cards and checking accounts, resulting in additional victim losses.

Chambers ordered restitution in the amount of $130,609.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Erik S. Goes handled the prosecution. This case was prosecuted as part of the U.S. Attorney's Initiative to Combat Theft of Government Benefits launched in June 2008, according to a press release. The initiative is designed to protect public funds and to prosecute those who steal benefits from public programs or agencies.

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