A West Yarmouth woman was sentenced Tuesday in federal court in Boston for stealing Social Security disability benefits.
Crystal Lehtola, 35, was sentenced to three years of supervised release with the first six months to be served on home confinement. Lehtola was also ordered to pay more than $53,000 in restitution.
Lehtola pleaded guilty in May to one count of theft of public funds.
Court documents show from February 2011 to August 2016, Lehtola received more than $53,000 in benefits from the Social Security Administration intended for her disabled daughter.
In April 2009, the state Department of Children and Families removed Lehtola’s daughter from her care. Lehtola never regained custody, but she continue to tell Social Security that her daughter lived with her and that she spent all of the benefits on her daughter’s care. Lehtola, in reality, spent the money on herself.