United States of America v. Akeatha Diane Akintola

Seattle, Washington, criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with stealing the Social Security benefits intended for a disabled minor.

Reported by Kent Morlan

Akeatha Diane Akintola became a social worker for the Snoqualmie Tribe in January 2023. In September 2023, Akintola applied by telephone to be the Social Security Representative Payee for a minor child with intellectual disabilities who was a ward of the Tribe. The child’s mother had died leaving survivor benefits to the child. The Tribe prohibits its social workers from becoming a representative payee for any child under its care. Nevertheless, Akintola used the child’s Social Security number and her own to apply to be the minor child’s representative payee and, once appointed as such, had the benefits intended for the child deposited into a bank account she controlled. Akintola spent the money that was deposited in the account for her own benefit, including a purchase at a North Bend retailer.

In July 2024, after Akintola had been collecting the benefits for at least five months, she went with her supervisor to the Social Security Administration to determine what had happened to the victim’s funds. When Social Security reported that Akintola was the representative payee, Akintola denied it to her supervisor. She resigned from her position with the Snoqualmie Tribe the next day.

Speaking to the impact of the theft, a Tribal representative told the court, “In our profession, a social worker is meant to be a safekeeper. A protector for children who have been stripped of their safety, family, and stability. Ms. Akintola did not just fail in that duty; she weaponized her position of power to systematically steal from a grieving, autistic child … her future independence…. This money was not a luxury. It was a lifeline…. The defendant did not just steal money; she manufactured a false relationship of safety with a traumatized child, exploiting that unearned trust for financial gain.”

The plea and sentencing hearing was originally scheduled for May 22, 2026, but Akintola failed to appear. Prosecutors learned she had left the U.S. on May 20, 2026, and traveled to Togo in West Africa using a passport issued in a different last name.

Akintola appeared for the plea and sentencing hearing yesterday, and Judge Vaughan ultimately ordered her into custody to begin serving the sentence immediately.

Akintola must pay $17,638 in restitution to the Social Security Administration. She is precluded from becoming a Social Security Representative Payee for anyone in the future.

The case was investigated by the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General (SSA-OIG) and the Snoqualmie Tribal Police.

INITIAL APPEARANCE, PLEA AND SENTENCING held on 6/17/2026. Defendant present at liberty. Defendant advised of rights. Financial Affidavit reviewed. Counsel appointed. Defendant placed under oath and advised of rights/charges/penalties; Court conducts plea colloquy with Defendant; Akeatha Diane Akintola (1) Plead GUILTY to Count 1. Court finds the Defendant is competent to enter a guilty plea and accepts the plea of guilty. Court hears from the parties regarding sentencing recommendations. Court hears from Lonzell Maddock, Community Services Director, on behalf of minor victim. Sentence imposed as to Count 1: 5 months confinement; 12 months supervised release with standard and special conditions; 40 hours community service; Fine waived; $25 special assessment; Restitution in the amount of $17,638. Judgment signed. Defendant ORDERED to self-report immediately to USMS. (SNP) (Entered: 06/18/2026).