SC election official guilty of collecting her dead mom’s Social Security for years

Fornearly10yearsafterhermotherdied,formerAikenCountyelectionofficialCynthiaHollandkeptoncollectingherdeadmom’smonthlySocialSecuritychecks,accordingtofederalprosecutors. Thechecks—some$168,000overtheyears—flowedbyelectronicdepositintoajointbankaccountHollandsharedwithherlatemother.ThenHollandtransferredthemoneytoherownbankaccount. Butnofreeridelastsforever. OnTuesday,afteratwo-daycriminaltrial,afederaljuryinColumbiafoundHolland,61,guiltyofstealingtheSocialSecuritypaymentsdueherlatemother,RuthSmithHolland.Shediedin2013attheageof70. Holland,whoistheformerlongtimedirectorofvoterregistrationandelectionsinAikenCounty,willbesentencedatalaterdateatanasyetunscheduledhearing. Hollandwasoneofseveralwitnessesputupbythedefenseinitsfutileefforttowinanacquittal. Hollandcontendedshedidnotintendtostealthemoney.In2023,aftershelearnedshewasunderinvestigationforcollectinghermother’sSocialSecuritychecks,shepaidback$100,0