Woman Allegedly Collected $180,000 Worth Of Dead Dad's Social Security

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Federal prosecutors in Pittsburgh say a woman collected $180,216 worth of Social Security benefits meant for her father - for nearly 23 years after he died.

Online court records don't list and age or address for Roni Halsel who is represented by the federal public defender's office, which has a blanket policy of not commenting on criminal cases.

But according to charges filed Wednesday, Halsel collected and cashed the checks meant for her father, Robert Shelton, who died Aug. 26, 1989. Authorities say the alleged thefts finally ended in July.

Halsel is charged with theft of government property.

Records don't indicate when she's due in court on the charge.

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