Woman sentenced for Social Security theft

A 48-year-old Hungry Horse woman was sentenced to prison for theft of government money by taking supplemental security income she was not entitled to receive.

Yvonne Owens-Morris pleaded guilty April 30 in federal court in Missoula. She had faced up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.

U.S. District Court Judge Dana Christensen sentenced Owens-Morris on Aug. 18 to eight months in prison and three years of supervised release. She was also ordered to pay $82,587 in restitution.

According to the U.S. Attorney for Montana Michael Cotter, when Owens-Morris applied for supplemental security income on May 8, 2008, she reported receiving $300 per month from her parents, using food stamps, owning two vehicles together worth $4,500 and having $100 in her bank account.

The Social Security Administration conducted eligibility reviews of Owens-Morris in September, October and December 2009. Each time, Owens-Morris reported owning assets worth less than $9,000 and receiving less than $600 per month.

Federal investigators, however, found that Owens-Morris had deeded the Dumas Walker Cowboy Bar in Kalispell to her sister in May 2007 and then, using a power of attorney from her sister, sold the property in January 2008 for $200,000. Her sister allegedly sent Owens-Morris $87,000 from January through June 2008.

Owens-Morris allegedly received a check for $101,000 in July 2008 from an insurance settlement after she fell and injured her back at her mother-in-law’s home. Her UBS investment account allegedly held $2,666 from July 2008 through June 2009. And after her mother died, Owens-Morris allegedly deeded a property in Refugio, Texas, worth $47,170 to herself and her father.

According to federal investigators, Owens-Morris received $24,622 in supplemental security income benefits and $40,000 in Montana Medicaid benefits to which she was not entitled.