A federal jury has found Cynthia Delores Holland, 61, of Aiken, guilty of fraudulently obtaining Social Security benefits intended for her deceased mother. Holland, who previously served as the county director of voter registration and elections, was convicted after a day and a half trial in Columbia.
According to evidence presented during the trial, Holland continued to receive her mother’s retirement benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA) after her mother died in 2013. The payments were mistakenly deposited into a joint account shared by Holland and her mother. Instead of notifying SSA about the error, Holland transferred the funds into her personal account and used them over nearly ten years. The improper payments totaled more than $168,000 before being discovered by SSA in December 2022.
The issue came to light in 2021 through SSA’s Death Match Project. As part of this project, SSA requested death records from the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control dating back to 2005 and compared them with current retirement beneficiaries. This process identified that benefits were still being paid under Holland’s mother’s name, prompting an investigation.
“Holland’s actions showed a decade of deception as she continued receiving and spending benefits intended for her deceased mother,” said U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina. “We are committed to protecting our taxpayer-funded systems from fraud and abuse.”
“Cynthia Holland exploited her own mother’s death to steal from a program meant to support the most vulnerable,” said Michelle L. Anderson, Acting Inspector General for SSA. “As a former public official, her deception is especially troubling. We will continue to pursue those who abuse Social Security for personal gain.”
Holland faces up to 10 years in federal prison, a possible fine up to $250,000, restitution payments, and three years of supervised release following any prison term. Senior United States District Judge Joseph F. Anderson, Jr., presided over the trial and will determine sentencing after reviewing a report from the U.S. Probation Office.
The case was investigated by the Social Security Administration’s Office of Inspector General and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Winston Holliday and Scott Matthews.
