A woman from Mississippi has entered a guilty plea regarding the unlawful acquisition of Social Security benefits that were meant for two elderly individuals, amounting to a total of $25,364, as stated by federal prosecutors.

Taruars Santae Grace, aged 46 and residing in Meridian, acknowledged that she had fraudulently obtained retirement benefits from the Social Security Administration. She then transferred these funds into various bank accounts that she could access and control, as outlined in court documents.

Despite being aware that these funds were not rightfully hers, Grace confessed to using the benefits for her own expenses, according to a report from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District. This admission came after a grand jury indicted her in August, which ultimately led to her guilty plea on Wednesday for the crime of theft of government funds.

Grace is set to face sentencing on February 11, 2025. She could potentially receive a prison sentence of up to ten years along with a fine that could reach $250,000.