A former Scottsdale resident was convicted Wednesday of stealing from and lying to the government when she obtained social security benefits for her disabled son who didn’t qualify for them.
Denise Crouse, 49, now of Georgia, was convicted Wednesday in Maricopa County Superior Court after a three-day trial. According to Attorney General Terry Goddard, Crouse lived in Scottsdale and Glendale between 1995 and 1999, where she collected more than $20,000 in Supplemental Security Income for her son, who was ineligible for the funds because he already had a $1 million trust fund. The supplemental funds are designed to help seniors and the disabled with incomes under $2,000 a year, Goddard said. During trial, Crouse testified that, not including the trust fund, she held assets worth between $1 million and $2 million.
Goddard said Crouse also tried to claim SSI and Medicaid benefits for her son after moving to Georgia.
Crouse will be sentenced on Jan. 18 and faces up to 10 years in prison.
