Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson has announced charges against Karen Duckworth, a 66-year-old resident of New Orleans, for theft of government funds. The charge was filed on July 14, 2025.
Court documents allege that Duckworth improperly received social security benefits deposited into her deceased mother’s bank account from January 2009 through August 2024.
If convicted, Duckworth faces a maximum penalty of ten years in prison and/or a fine of up to $250,000. This could be followed by up to three years of supervised release and a mandatory special assessment fee of one hundred dollars.
Simpson emphasized that the bill of information is only a charge and that guilt must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
He commended the Social Security Administration’s Office of Inspector General for their investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Richard R. Pickens II from the Financial Crimes Unit will lead the prosecution.
