Marcy Woman Admits to Gambling Away Deceased Mother’s VA Benefits

An Oneida County woman has been sentenced after admitting she stole her deceased mother's VA benefits.

54-year-old Michelle Gulla of Marcy will serve 5 years probation and will have to pay back the $22,344.86 she used to gamble at casinos here and in Las Vegas. Gulla says that from January 2014 to April 2016 she withdrew the money from her mother's account, who had passed away.

The money in Gulla's mother's account was over-payment made by the U.S. Veteran’s Administration. The VA never received notice of the death of the benefactor and prosecutors say she was aware she was not entitled to the money. As part of her sentence she will repay the money to the VA. This sentence follows Gulla's guilty plea back in January 2017.