The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Missoula, on December 1, 2011, before U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy, JEFFREY JOHN HAWK, a 48-year-old resident of Missoula, appeared for sentencing. HAWK was sentenced to a term of:

House Arrest: 6 months

Special Assessment: $100

Restitution: $15,565

Supervised Release: 5 years

HAWK was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to making false statements.

In an Offer of Proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Racicot, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:

Pamela Hawk moved into subsidized housing at the Council Grove apartments in Missoula in March 2006. She added JEFFREY JOHN HAWK to her lease in May 2006. From 2006 until January 2009, Pamela and Jeffrey paid approximately $250 per month for rent and received a Section 8 subsidy, administered by the Council Grove Apartments, in the amount of approximately $380 per month. JEFFREY was employed nearly that entire time, but filled out numerous forms representing that he was unemployed. Pamela reported her babysitting income, but consistently failed to report the income that she earned working for a family business.

From June 2006 until January 2009, the HAWKS failed to report approximately $118,000 in employment income to either HUD or the Council Grove Apartments. As a result, they received benefit overpayments in the amount of $15,565.

Pamela Hawk was interviewed on May 24 and May 26, 2010. She admitted concealing income from Council Groves and apologized for her actions. She also admitted that she knew how the Section 8 program worked and knew that she had to report all of her employment income in order to determine her eligibility for the program. During the May 26, 2010 interview, she signed a handwritten statement that she had previously prepared that details her fraud.

JEFFREY HAWK was interviewed on May 26, 2010. He admitted that he knew the Section 8 rules, said that he reviewed a few certifications and that it is possible he was unemployed when those forms were signed. But he also said the information on the forms could be untruthful and that while Pamela filled out the forms, he was married to her and he accepted responsibility for their actions.

Because there is no parole in the federal system, the "truth in sentencing" guidelines mandate that HAWK will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, HAWK does have the opportunity to earn a sentence reduction for "good behavior." However, this reduction will not exceed 15% of the overall sentence.

Pamela Hawk pled guilty to federal charges and has been sentenced.

The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development - Inspector General's Office.

 

 

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