Seat Belt Stop Turns Up Wanted Woman

WARWICK, RI — In May, Warwick Police caught a wanted woman, indicted in Massachusetts April 2 for embezzling about $86,994.58 in Social Security benefits, when an officer spotted her riding in a van without a seatbelt.

At 11:30 p.m. May 22, WPD Sgt. Stephen Major, stationed in the area of Rte. 5 and Rte. 113 during a Click It Or Ticket seat belt detail, saw a woman in the passenger’s seat of a white Ford van pass his cruiser.  He stopped the van and questioned the woman, who initially identified herself using a fake name, age and address.

Major ultimately  determined she was Nancy Taylor, 44, of 224 Plain St., Apt. #2, Fall River, MA. Taylor, he learned, was a wanted woman in Massachusetts for theft of government property by  the U.S. Marshals Service in Massachusetts. She was also wanted in Smithfield for failing to appear for a court hearing. Major removed Taylor from the van, arrested her and transported her to Warwick Police Headquarters, 99 Veterans Memorial Drive.  She was eventually  turned over to Third District Court.

The theft of government property charge, according to the indictment, was leveled after Taylor embezzled  Social Security benefits intended for her minor child from May 2016 through May 2022.

The charge carries a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater.  Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors, according to the U.S. Marshal’s Service.

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Bradley Parker, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division made the announcement. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Nagelberg of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.