Dillon woman sentenced for Social Security fraud

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A Dillon woman has been sentenced to five years’ probation for Social Security fraud.

U.S. Attorney Bill Nettles says Emma Bowens was sentenced this week in federal court in Florence. She was also ordered to pay nearly $24,000 in restitution.

Bowens had previously pleaded guilty. Prosecutors say she had been living with her mother, Tenner Townsend, who had been receiving Social Security benefits.

Townsend died in May 2010, but the government says her daughter never reported the death and kept cashing her mother’s checks.

When government officials found out in August 2012, prosecutors say Bowens had cashed nearly $24,000 in benefits.