A former employee with the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) has been slapped with felony charges after allegedly cooking the books on child home visits. April Diamond Hawk, 52, of Fort Pierce, faces a trio of felony counts for falsifying records and additional misdemeanor counts of petit theft and official misconduct, as reported by CBS12. Hawk, who worked as a DCF dependence case manager, was arrested following an investigation that pointed to fake visits and fraudulent travel reimbursements.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) delved into the case after receiving a tip-off from the DCF Office of Inspector General on June 14. The FDLE accused Hawk of having fabricated entries on three specific dates: September 16, 2022; February 14; and March 16, for child visits that she never conducted. In addition to creating phantom appointments, the former case manager is believed to have lined her pockets with travel expenses for the non-existent journeys.
The St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office was enlisted to assist FDLE with the case, culminating in Hawk's arrest on December 18. After the cuffs were slapped on, she was booked into the St. Lucie County Jail; her bond pegged at $21,000. CBS12 notes that the Office of the State Attorney, 19th Judicial Circuit, will take the lead in prosecuting Hawk's case.
According to Capital Soup, the FDLE's investigation unearthed falsified travel mileage logs alongside the fraudulent visit entries. These allegations portray a betrayal of trust, as the very system designed to oversee the welfare of children in Hawk's care stands accused of having been manipulated for personal gain. As the legal process unfolds, many will be watching to see the justice that is served for the breach of duty and public deception.
