Heather R. King Pleads Guilty to Stealing Daughter’s SSI Funds

Heather R. King, 31, of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, stole thousands in government benefits meant for her own daughter — cash she had no right to touch. King pleaded guilty yesterday to theft of government funds, admitting she funneled Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments into her pocket while her daughter lived elsewhere.

Court records show King served as the representative payee for her minor daughter, entrusted by the Social Security Administration (SSA) to manage the child’s SSI benefits. But from May 17, 2014, through October 1, 2015, King did not have custody of the girl — a fact she deliberately concealed. Instead of notifying the SSA, she kept collecting the monthly payments like clockwork, treating them as her own.

The scam lasted over a year. During that time, King failed to report the child’s absence, dodging her legal and moral duty while cashing government checks. The SSI program is designed to support disabled, low-income individuals and children in need — not to bankroll deceitful parents. King’s betrayal struck at the heart of that mission.

She now faces up to ten years in federal prison and a maximum fine of $250,000. A term of up to three years of supervised release also looms. Sentencing is scheduled for May 22, 2018, before Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill at the federal courthouse in Coeur d’Alene.

The Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General led the investigation, uncovering the paper trail King left behind. Officials say cases like this erode public trust and drain resources meant for society’s most vulnerable.

King’s crime wasn’t just a violation of federal law — it was a betrayal of blood. She used her role as a parent to exploit a system designed to protect children. Now, she’ll answer for it in a federal courtroom.

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