A United States court has sentenced Nigerian social worker Akeatha Diane Akintola to five years in prison for stealing Social Security benefits meant for a disabled minor under the care of the Snoqualmie Tribe.
Court Hands Down Five-Year Sentence
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd announced the sentence in a statement released by the United States Department of Justice last week.
Akintola, 48, pleaded guilty to theft of public funds after authorities linked her to the theft of $17,638 meant for the child.
Meanwhile, Magistrate Judge S. Kate Vaughan strongly condemned her actions during the sentencing hearing.
The judge said Akintola deliberately targeted a vulnerable victim and described the crime as an “ethical breach beyond imagining.”
How The Fraud Happened
According to court records, Akintola started work as a social worker for the Snoqualmie Tribe in January 2023.
In September 2023, she applied by telephone to become the Social Security Representative Payee for a minor with intellectual disabilities who was a ward of the Tribe.
The child’s mother had died, leaving survivor benefits for the child.
However, the Tribe prohibits its social workers from serving as representative payees for children under its care.
Nevertheless, Akintola used the child’s Social Security number and her own details to secure the role.
Consequently, the Social Security Administration deposited the child’s benefits into a bank account under her control.
Funds Used For Personal Expenses
Furthermore, investigators found that Akintola spent the money on herself.
Court records showed she used part of the funds for personal purchases, including a transaction at a North Bend retailer.
In July 2024, Akintola accompanied her supervisor to the Social Security Administration office to find out what had happened to the child’s missing benefits.
However, when officials disclosed that she was the registered representative payee, she denied any involvement.
She resigned from her position with the Snoqualmie Tribe the following day.
Tribal Representative Condemns Actions
Meanwhile, a Tribal representative told the court that Akintola abused a position meant to protect vulnerable children.
The representative said the stolen funds were not a luxury but a lifeline for a grieving child living with autism.
Furthermore, the representative accused Akintola of exploiting the child’s trust for financial gain and undermining the child’s future independence.
Akintola Left US Before Hearing
The plea and sentencing hearing was originally scheduled for May 22, 2026.
However, Akintola failed to appear in court.
Prosecutors later discovered that she had left the United States on May 20, 2026, and travelled to Togo using a passport issued under a different surname.
Consequently, she returned and appeared in court on June 17, 2026.
Judge Vaughan immediately ordered her into custody to begin serving her sentence.
Restitution Ordered
In response, the court directed Akintola to repay the full $17,638 to the Social Security Administration.
The court also barred her from serving as a Social Security Representative Payee in the future.
Meanwhile, the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General (SSA-OIG) and the Snoqualmie Tribal Police investigated the case.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica M. Ly prosecuted the matter. Ly works with the Social Security Administration and handles Social Security fraud cases in federal court.
