Seattle Woman Accused Of Defrauding Three Public Assistance Programs Sentenced In Federal Court

This week, it was announced that a Seattle woman who had defrauded programs designed to assist the neediest in the community was sentenced in federal court. 39-year-old Deka Hirsi was sentenced to three years of probation. The defendant was accused of lying to obtain subsidized housing from the Seattle Housing Authority. Hirsi falsely claimed that her only employment was working all night caring for her elderly parents and claimed benefits for overnight daycare stays for her five children.

In reality, the defendant was operating a small grocery store during the day and did not provide nightly care for her parents. Also, her children lived in her parents’ home and never received daycare services. The defendant was ordered to pay $328,509 in restitution. The judge did not impose the prison sentence requested by prosecutors, because Hirsi suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder based on childhood trauma in Somalia.

Additional details regarding the sentencing can be found here.

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