Spouse of Missing Claiborne County Man Charged with Illegally Claiming His Social Security Benefits

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In an unexpected twist to a long-standing missing persons case, Cindy Shaboo, the wife of a man from Claiborne County who vanished in 2017, has been arrested on charges of theft. Allegations surfaced that she unlawfully collected her missing husband’s Social Security benefits for over four years.

Shaboo, aged 63, was taken into custody after being indicted for theft exceeding $10,000. Her husband, Joseph John Williams, who was 65 at the time, disappeared in April 2017. Concerns arose when his adult children could not reach him despite numerous attempts.

At the time of his disappearance, Shaboo claimed her husband had left town for work without his phone. Authorities were informed that Williams had allegedly left with an individual he met through Craigslist to undertake a plumbing job. This was reported by a sheriff’s office captain to Nexstar’s 6 News in May 2017.

The investigation into Williams’ disappearance saw the involvement of special agents from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, who began aiding the Claiborne County Sheriff’s Office in May 2017. As their inquiry progressed, agents uncovered that Shaboo had been fraudulently collecting Williams’ Social Security benefits from May 2017 until November 2021, amassing nearly $40,000.

TBI agents and the sheriff’s office detectives are asking anyone who may have information on the disappearance of Williams to call 1-800-TBI-FIND or send an email tip to TipsToTBI@tbi.tn.gov.

Shaboo was booked into the Claiborne County Jail on a $50,000 bond.