In his role, Awonuga was responsible for deciding if a person was eligible for food stamps. An investigation by Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) found he used his authority to coercive individuals into having sex with him. This included some not otherwise eligible to receive benefits.
"Awonuga used his position to attempt to get a participant in the state's food assistance program to have sex with him in exchange for benefits," a press release from TBI detailed. "Agents further learned Awonuga manipulated the program in a separate incident by obtaining benefits for an applicant who would otherwise not be eligible in an attempt to get the participant to have sex with him.