PITTSBURGH — A Mercer County resident Thursday pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of theft of government property, according to the United States Attorney’s office.

Alexander Viskovatoff, 57, of Grove City pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon.

Prosecutors accused Viskovatoff of taking $38,000 from the Social Security Administration that had been intended as benefits for his dead mother between January 2011 and September 2012.

Bissoon scheduled sentencing for March 17.

Viskovatoff faces a sentence of up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.