⏱ 2 min read
Akeatha Diane Akintola, a 48-year-old former social worker from Bellevue, Washington, was sentenced to five months in prison for stealing $17,638 in Social Security benefits from a vulnerable disabled minor, a member of the Snoqualmie Tribe. The crime occurred between September 2023 and July 2024, when Akintola was a social worker for the tribe. Akintola targeted the minor, who had intellectual disabilities and was a ward of the tribe, and used the child’s Social Security number to collect the benefits. The tribe prohibits its social workers from becoming representative payees for children under its care, making Akintola’s actions a clear breach of ethics.
Akintola’s scheme was uncovered in July 2024, when she accompanied her supervisor to the Social Security Administration to investigate the missing funds. When confronted, Akintola denied being the representative payee, but later resigned from her position with the Snoqualmie Tribe. The court heard that Akintola spent the stolen money on personal expenses, including a purchase at a North Bend retailer.
Magistrate Judge S. Kate Vaughan expressed her concern over Akintola’s actions, stating that she had targeted a particularly vulnerable victim. The judge described the crime as an ‘ethical breach beyond imagining.’ The Snoqualmie Tribe also spoke out about the impact of the theft, highlighting the harm caused to the vulnerable minor.
Akintola pleaded guilty to theft of public funds and was sentenced to five months in prison. The case highlights the importance of protecting vulnerable individuals from exploitation and ensuring that those in positions of trust, such as social workers, are held accountable for their actions.
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Defendant: Washington
- Location: WA
- Source: DOJ Press Release
