Kahoka woman admits to stealing $157,323 in disability benefits from brother while he was in prison

ST. LOUIS – A Missouri woman on Wednesday admitted stealing her brother’s Social Security disability payments during the decade he spent in prison.

Lora Houck, 57, of Kahoka, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of theft of government money. A press release from the Office of the United States Attorney, Eastern District of Missouri, said Houck admitted as part of her plea that she was the power of attorney for her brother and had control of his bank accounts.

During his time in prison, she was aware that he was not entitled to the benefits but used her status as his power of attorney to access his bank accounts and his disability benefits, her plea says. Her brother was in prison from May 2013 to June 2023, but the benefits stopped in September 2021. During that time, Houck stole a total of $157,323.

At Houck’s Sept. 23 sentencing, she faces up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both prison and a fine.

The Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gwendolyn Carroll is prosecuting the case.