DA: DHS worker stole $18,000 in SEPTA tokens
A Philadelphia social worker surrendered to police today after she was charged with stealing nearly $18,000 in SEPTA tokens from the Department of Human Services.
Shamira Hawkins-Worthey, 30, came under suspicion in September 2013 after a DHS supervisor noticed she had requested 300 tokens in a two-day period. One of Hawkins-Worthey's responsibilities included providing SEPTA tokens to agency clients for transportation to court hearings and medical appointments. But 300 was an unusually high request, according to District Attorney Seth Williams in a statement.
An investigation determined the requests were for cases that were either inactive or closed, Williams said. As the investigation progressed, auditors discovered that Hawkins-Worthey had submitted 640 requests and had received nearly 11,500 tokens valued at $17,784, Williams said.
Hawkins-Worthey, who has been employed by DHS since 2006, allegedly also submitted overtime for 28 cases that had either been closed or did not exist at all in databases. The alleged overtime fraud cost the city an additional $6,600, Williams said.
"I have no words for the actions of this person," said District Attorney Seth Williams. "Instead of helping some of the most vulnerable people in our city, she chose to use her position with DHS to line her own pockets. It's sad and very, very wrong."
























