PITTSBURGH — A Butler man on Thursday pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of theft of government money.

According to U.S. Attorney David Hickton, Jody Schmidt, 46, entered his plea before U.S. District Court Judge David Cercone.

From January 2005 to December 2012, Schmidt took $71,450 in Social Security disability insurance benefit payments he was not entitled to receive, authorities said

Cercone scheduled sentencing for April 1. Under federal law, the maximum total sentence for the crime is 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Under the federal sentencing guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and any prior criminal history of the defendant. Pending sentence, the court released Schmidt on bond. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary McKeen Houghton prosecuted the case.

The Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution.