A Binghamton woman is facing nearly 40 counts of social security fraud after the United States Department of Justice says she is accused of stealing benefits over a three-year period.

According to the United States Department of Justice, Loretta Washington is accused of applying for and receiving social security benefits for a minor as her representative-payee. The department says a representative-payee is a person or organization selected by the Social Security Administration to receive benefits on behalf of a beneficiary who is unable to manage their payments.

The department says Washington is accused of stealing over $25,000 in benefits over a three-year period from October 2018 to November 2021. She was officially charged with 38 counts of social security fraud.

If she is found guilty, Washington faces up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000 and a term of supervised release of up to three years.