Nigerian caregiver sentenced to five months for stealing disabled child's benefits in US

Akeatha Diane Akintola, a 48-year-old Nigerian social worker based in the United States, has been sentenced to five months in prison for stealing over $17,000 in Social Security benefits intended for a disabled child under her care. Akintola pleaded guilty to theft of public funds after unlawfully diverting $17,638 meant for a minor with intellectual disabilities. The US Attorney's Office, Western District of Washington, stated that Akintola became a social worker for the Snoqualmie Tribe in January 2023 and applied to be the Social Security Representative Payee for a child whose mother had died. Despite a tribal prohibition against social workers serving as representative payees for children under their care, Akintola used the child's Social Security number to secure the appointment and redirected the benefits to her personal bank account, spending the funds on personal expenses. The theft was discovered in July 2024 when Akintola accompanied her supervisor to inquire about the child's missing benefits. Akintola initially denied being the representative payee and resigned the next day. She failed to appear for an earlier plea and sentencing hearing, having traveled to Togo using a different passport. Magistrate Judge Kate Vaughan condemned the offense, highlighting the vulnerability of the victim. Akintola was ordered to pay $17,638 in restitution to the Social Security Administration and is barred from serving as a representative payee in the future.