Spencer Woman Charged In Worcester With Bank Fraud

WORCESTER, MA - A Spencer woman was charged in Worcester in federal court with planning to illegally obtain Social Security benefits, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Gina Llerena-Donohue, 62, is charged with fraudulently obtaining nearly $42,000 in Social Security benefits and holding power of attorney for a beneficiary who died in January 2006. She is accused of failing to report that death and accessing improperly paid benefits through several counter cash withdrawals.

Additionally, Llerena-Donohue is accused of submitting false affidavits to the bank in 2018 and 2019 by stating her power of attorney was still in effect.

Llerena-Donohue is set to appear in federal court in Worcester at a later date, and the bank fraud charges carry a sentence of up to 30 years in prison and substantial fines.