Government Paid Almost $181,000 In Social Security Benefits To Sewanee Man After He Died In 1988; Hawkins Charged With Embezzlement

  • Tuesday, August 22, 2017

The Social Security Administration paid almost $181,000 in benefits to a Sewanee man after he died in 1988, federal prosecutors said.

The government learned in 2014 that the money designated to Walter Acton was going to a man living in his home at 3932 Jump Off Road - Edward Hawkins. Hawkins has agreed to plead guilty to embezzlement in the case.

Prosecutor Perry Piper said that Social Security began checking into the case and found that Hawkins was withdrawing money being paid to an Acton account at a bank ATM in Monteagle.

It was also found that in 2005 or 2006 that Hawkins had reported that Acton was living in his rental house.

Hawkins is due for his initial appearance in Federal Court in Chattanooga on Wednesday morning.

He faces up to 10 years in federal prison.

The government is asking that he repay $180,959.

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