A Lancaster woman was accused Tuesday of stealing $87,000 in Social Security benefits mostly meant for her grandmother.

Maria Rodano, 61, was charged by the U.S. Attorney's Office in Philadelphia with one count of theft of government funds.

She faces up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and restitution.

Prosecutors said the scheme was rooted in Social Security Administration benefits for Rodano's grandmother.

And in another twist, prosecutors said the scheme actually was initiated by Rodano's mother.

The grandmother, identified only as "F.H.," died in December 1971.

That should have stopped the Social Security payments to her.

But Social Security was not promptly notified of F.H.'s death, so it continued to pay benefits to her.

Initially, the grandmother's daughter, identified only as "M.K.," stole the payments, said prosecutors.

That theft continued until M.K.'s death in April 2004, prosecutors said.

The amount allegedly stolen by M.K. was not disclosed.

Then, that same month, Rodano obtained access to the bank account where F.H.'s benefits were being deposited electronically.

Over the following years, Rodano allegedly stole $81,500 in benefits intended for F.H., prosecutors said.

In July 2007, Rodano took the scheme a step farther, said prosecutors.

She applied for Social Security benefits for herself but failed to disclose her entire income.

Namely, she failed to cite the benefits she was improperly receiving that were being improperly paid to her late grandmother, said prosecutors.

During the next year, Rodano got nearly $5,300 in Social Security benefits that she was not qualified to receive, prosecutors alleged.

tmekeel@lnpnews.com