A 63-year-old woman from New York has been sentenced to 12 months in a federal correctional facility after admitting to hiding her dead boyfriend’s body in a basement recycling bin for months while continuing to collect his Social Security benefits.
Wendy Stone, who pleaded guilty to theft of government funds, had been using the benefits for personal expenses while concealing her boyfriend’s death.
The Shocking Discovery
Wendy Stone’s crime began after her boyfriend, Kenneth Crisman, died on December 28, 2022, at their home in Rochester, New York. Authorities say that instead of reporting his death, Stone decided to hide his body in the basement of their home to continue collecting his Social Security payments.
She placed his body in a recycling bin, wrapped it in plastic, and poured bleach on the remains to prevent the smell of decay from attracting attention.
Stealing Social Security Benefits
Stone’s actions didn’t stop with hiding the body. After Crisman’s death, Stone took advantage of his Social Security benefits by using his debit card. Just days after his death, Crisman’s new debit card arrived at their home, which Stone took and used to make purchases.
She started spending the benefits on food, shopping at Walmart, The Home Depot, and other stores, as well as making ATM withdrawals.
Surveillance footage showed Stone shopping at Walmart in August 2023 and using the card to make withdrawals at ATMs in June. She was also caught using the card to open a Rent-A-Center account in March 2023, accumulating over $7,900 in fraudulent charges between January and September 2023.
Further Fraudulent Activities
In addition to the theft of Social Security benefits, Stone continued her deceitful behavior by falsifying her application for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits in February 2023. She claimed that Crisman still lived with her, which led to her receiving $1,072 in SNAP benefits that she was not entitled to.
Legal Consequences
Stone had initially faced up to ten years in prison, but after reaching a plea agreement, she was sentenced to just one year in federal prison. On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr. ordered the 63-year-old woman to serve the sentence after she pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful conversion of government money.
Her case sheds light on the lengths some individuals may go to for personal gain, even at the cost of moral integrity and human decency. Stone’s actions, while extreme, highlight a tragic tale of greed and disregard for the dignity of a lost life.
The sentencing of Wendy Stone sends a clear message about the serious consequences of financial fraud and the manipulation of government systems.
Her actions, which included hiding her deceased boyfriend’s body and continuing to steal his benefits for months, are a reminder of how devastating personal greed can be. Stone will now serve 12 months in a federal facility for her crimes.
