A Chelsea, OK, woman was sentenced Wednesday to 6 months in federal prison for one count of conversion of benefits by representative payee and one count of making a false statement.

 Arvella Evyon Downing, 55, was sentenced to 6 months followed by 3 years of supervised release. She was further ordered to pay $28,000 in restitution.

According to court documents, Downing pleaded guilty on March 3, 2023. She admitted that from on or about October 1, 2019, through on or about September 30, 2020, that she made application to receive Social Security benefits on behalf of three minor children. She received approximately $28,000 and claimed that she spent it on housing, clothing, education, medical and dental expenses, recreation, and personal items.

Downing was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

The FBI and the Social Security Administration-Office of the Inspector General investigated the case.