The former executive director of the Whitefish Housing Authority, Dwarne Lamont Hawkins, has been sentenced to four months in prison and four months of home confinement. This will be followed by three years of supervised release. Additionally, Hawkins has been ordered to pay $144,842 in restitution for embezzling funds from the organization. The U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich announced these details following the sentencing.
Hawkins, 46, hailing from Fairview Heights, Illinois, had previously pleaded guilty in October 2024 to charges related to theft from an organization receiving federal funding. U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy presided over the case and also mandated that Hawkins perform 200 hours of community service. Hawkins has been granted permission to self-report to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
According to court documents presented by the government, Hawkins committed embezzlement while serving as the executive director of the Whitefish Housing Authority between May 2023 and January 2024. The authority provides affordable housing options for low-income families in Whitefish and received approximately $468,616 in federal funds from HUD during this period.
The allegations stated that Hawkins diverted funds by inflating payrolls, using the organization's credit card for personal expenses fraudulently, and creating fraudulent invoices for businesses he controlled. The investigation pinpointed $144,842 as the amount requiring restitution.
The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office with investigative efforts conducted by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Office of Inspector General.