A Thibodaux man has admitted to stealing government funds, U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced. Nathaniel Hopkins Jr., 48, entered a guilty plea to the charge of theft of government funds before United States District Judge Jay Zainey, as per court documents.
Details of the case reveal that Hopkins continued to collect Social Security payments meant for his wife, who had been dead since April 2014, netting approximately $144,176.43 over nearly a decade. The payments, which began in 2003, were part of the Social Security Administration's ("SSA") Title II – Retirement Survivor Insurance Benefits, which should have ceased following his wife's death. However, Hopkins failed to report her passing to the SSA until January 2024, when the malfeasance was eventually discovered.
The Social Security Administration's Office of the Inspector General played a key role in unraveling this case, earning commendation from U.S. Attorney Evans. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Hopkins is now facing serious consequences for his actions.
With the sentencing scheduled for January 29, 2025, Hopkins could be looking at up to ten years imprisonment, along with other possible penalties such as up to three years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000.00, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. The prosecution of this case by Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward J. Rivera of the Financial Crimes Unit signifies a firm stance against financial crimes and mismanagement of public funds.
