Her mother died in 2012. She allegedly collected her SSA benefits for over 9 years.

A New Jersey woman admitted to defrauding the Social Security Administration (SSA) by taking over $144,000 in survivor benefits meant for her mother, federal prosecutors announced on Monday, Sept. 22.

Joan Charnecky, 60, pleaded guilty to theft of public money on Sept. 10, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey said in a news release.

According to prosecutors, the SSA investigated the deposits and found that Charnecky withdrew the funds, which were meant for her mother, who passed away in December 2012.

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USA TODAY contacted the SSA on Tuesday, Sept. 23, but has not received a response.