Fraud suspect enters guilty plea

ESCANABA — One of five individuals arrested in late October on fraud charges entered a plea agreement Wednesday morning in Delta County Circuit Court.

Sharon Philemon, 59, of Wilson, pleaded guilty to one count of welfare fraud over $500. Her original charge of embezzlement of a vulnerable adult between $1,000-$20,000 was dropped as a result of the plea agreement.

Philemon and four others were arrested by Escanaba Public Safety after a six-month long investigation into the misuse of Social Security funds. She will be sentenced on February 15th, 2017.