BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK – Rhonda Cook, age 61, of Syracuse, New York made her initial appearance September 14, 2026, in federal court on charges of social security fraud and theft of government property. First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III, Amy Connelly, Special Agent-in-Charge, Boston–New York–Philadelphia Field Division, Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General (SSA OIG) made the announcement.
According to the indictment, Cook received and kept Social Security money intended for a Social Security recipient while serving as a representative payee for that recipient and did not use the money for the benefit of the recipient. This action is part of an ongoing effort of the Trump Administration’s Fraud Task Force aimed at eliminating fraud across the country. The charges in the indictment are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed…
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