Clarksville Felon Sentenced to 1.5 Years in Federal Prison for Stealing Over $125,000 in Federal Benefits After Prior Conviction for a Similar Scheme

From the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Indiana

NEW ALBANY—Willie D. Watts, 42, of Clarksville, has been sentenced to eighteen months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to theft of federal benefits from the Section 8 Housing Voucher, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance, and Social Security programs.

According to court documents, from 2014 to 2021, Ms. Watts received benefits from four different federal programs intended to benefit eligible persons in need: Section 8 housing vouchers, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (“SNAP”), Social Security Survivors benefits, and Medicaid.

To qualify for these programs, Watts lied and represented that one or more of her children was living with her and needed services, when all three of the children were actually living with other family members. She recertified this false information as required, generally on an annual basis. This resulted in Watts receiving benefits from the federal programs that she was not entitled to receive.

For example, from February 2015 through September 2019, Watts fraudulently received Social Security Survivors Benefits intended for two of her children following the deaths of their fathers, by falsely certifying that they lived with her. Watts used the funds for her own purposes and did not provide them to her children.

Watts also made false statements about her income and assets. She did not disclose that she owned a house in Jeffersonville, Indiana, or that she was receiving rental income from tenants who lived there. Watts knew that if she gave complete and accurate information to the government programs, her benefits would be reduced or eliminated. Her lies allowed her to receive $125,753.90 in federal benefits to which she was not entitled.

Watts engaged in this scheme in Indiana after engaging in a nearly identical scheme in Kentucky. In 2016, Watts was charged with felonies in Jefferson County, Kentucky for stealing over $30,000 from government assistance programs, including SNAP and Medicaid. From 2011 through 2013 Watts lied and represented that one or more of her children was living with her and needed services, when they did not in in fact live with her. She was convicted in 2018 and sentenced to three years in prison, which was suspended to probation. Watts continued her Indiana scheme throughout her prosecution and sentencing in Kentucky.

“Hard-working families and financially vulnerable children often are supported by federal programs at times of financial crisis,” said Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Undeterred by prior felony convictions for the same conduct, this defendant chose to seal over $125,000 in public money from eligible recipients in need. The federal prison sentence here demonstrates that the Department of Justice will work closely with our partners in federal, state, and local law enforcement to identify criminals who defraud public programs and hold them accountable.”

“Watts’ selfish actions diverted critical taxpayer dollars from HUD-assisted housing programs intended for low-income families to have decent and safe housing,” said Special Agent-in-Charge Machelle Jindra with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General.  “HUD OIG will continue to work with its prosecutorial and law enforcement partners to vigorously pursue those who seek to profit by abusing HUD-funded programs.”

“Willie Watts made false claims to the Social Security Administration to unlawfully receive Social Security Survivors Benefits. Her deliberate theft of Social Security Benefits was criminal and has led to this sentence that now holds her accountable for defrauding several federal benefit programs, including Social Security,” stated Acting Special Agent in Charge, Chancellor Melvin, Social Security Administration (SSA) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) Chicago Field Division. “SSA OIG will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate allegations of fraud and seek prosecution as appropriate. I thank the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General. (HUD OIG) and the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration for working with us in this investigation and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew B. Miller for prosecuting this case.”

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development-Office of Inspector General, Social Security Administration-Office of Inspector General, and the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Sarah Evans Barker.  

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew B. Miller, who prosecuted this case.