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85-YEAR-OLD VA BENEFITS THIEF AVOIDS PRISON, AGAIN --

The judge showed leniency because of thief's age and the

fact that she raises two teenage foster grandsons.

 

 

Story here... http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/
pittsburghtrib/news/cityregion/s_505362.html

Story below:

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Octagenarian avoids prison -- again

By Jason Cato
TRIBUNE-REVIEW

An elderly Lincoln-Lemington woman today avoided prison for the second time for cashing her deceased sister's federal benefits checks.

Kathleen Givens, 85, was sentenced to three years' probation, given 50 hours of community service and ordered to repay $67,000 to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Prosecutors said Givens forged the signature of her dead sister on 24 checks from December 2003 through November 2005.

Givens is still serving probation in another case in which she was convicted of passing forged U.S. Treasury checks.

In September 2005, U.S. District Judge Gary Lancaster sentenced Givens to two years' probation and ordered her to repay $48,000 to the Social Security Administration.

In that case, prosecutors said Givens cashed 21 of her dead sister's Social Security checks from December 1999 through October 2001.

U.S. District Judge David Cercone said today that repeat offenders given probation the first time normally are sent to jail the second time.

However, he showed leniency toward Givens due to her age and the fact that she raises two teenage foster grandsons.

Jason Cato can be reached at jcato@tribweb.com 
or 412-320-7840.

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Larry Scott  --