New York – In a disturbing case of fraud and deception in New York, a 63-year-old woman, identified as W. Stone, has been sentenced to one year in federal prison after authorities discovered she had hidden her boyfriend’s dead body for over nine months just so she could continue collecting his Social Security payments. She was convicted of conversion with unlawful conveyance of government money, following a plea agreement with federal prosecutors.
Stone initially faced several more serious charges, including theft of government funds, aggravated identity theft, and making false statements to obtain Social Security benefits. However, she struck a deal with prosecutors and accepted responsibility for taking nearly $8,000 in federal benefits that were never hers to begin with. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the macabre scheme began in late December 2022, when Stone’s boyfriend, identified as K. Crisman, passed away at their shared residence. Rather than report his death, Stone made the decision to conceal it in order to continue collecting his government benefits.
Authorities said Stone moved Crisman’s body to the basement, wrapped it in plastic, placed it inside a recycling bin, and periodically poured bleach over the remains to cover up the stench. The gruesome concealment lasted from December 2022 until September 2023, during which Stone pretended Crisman was still alive. Authorities discovered that before Crisman died, he had requested a replacement debit card for his Social Security benefits. That card arrived just four days before his death. Stone took possession of it and began activating and using the card on January 6, 2023, with the first transactions recorded the next day.
Between January and September 2023, Stone used the debit card to make a variety of purchases and ATM withdrawals, totaling $7,902. She was recorded on surveillance cameras shopping at a supermarket on August 10 and also seen making cash withdrawals of $400 and $300 at an ATM on June 6. The card was also used to open a Rent-A-Center account worth over $1,800, and various transactions were made at stores and local restaurants. Prosecutors stated that the spending spree depleted the account within just a few days.
In addition to defrauding Social Security, Stone also provided false information to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). On February 6, 2023, she recertified her SNAP benefits, falsely stating that Crisman was still alive and living with her. This lie resulted in her receiving an additional $1,072 in food assistance benefits she was not entitled to. Despite the disturbing details of the case, Stone was ultimately sentenced to 12 months in a federal correctional facility last week. Though she initially faced up to ten years in prison, her guilty plea led to a more lenient sentence.
The case serves as a chilling example of how financial desperation and deception can lead to grotesque choices. Prosecutors emphasized the gravity of Stone’s actions—not only for the fraud itself, but for her deliberate efforts to hide a man’s death for personal gain. As the community absorbs the unsettling nature of the case, authorities hope the sentence sends a message about the seriousness of defrauding government programs and the disrespect of human dignity involved in such concealment.
