When Lori Hawkins’ disabled neighbor moved to an assisted-living facility, Hawkins was the one who set up the payments to the center.

But Hawkins also arranged to take money for herself, stealing nearly $270,000 and eventually stopped making the payments for her neighbor’s care because there were no funds left.

Hawkins, 38, of the District, has been sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison for the thefts.

The case was “egregious,” prosecutors said in a sentencing memorandum, “not only based on the amount of money the defendant stole but also based on the nature of the victim — a close family friend with diminished mental capacity.”

Hawkins grew up next door to the woman, who is now 62 and suffered brain tumors when she was in her 20s that left her mentally disabled and unable to care for herself.

When the woman’s brother died in March 2007 and left a $400,000 inheritance, Hawkins created a document that purported to give her power of attorney over her neighbor, according to Hawkins’ plea agreement.

Between July 2007 and November 2009, Hawkins stole a total of $269,630, according to court records. As part of her plea agreement, she has agreed to pay restitution to the woman.

Hawkins is “extremely remorseful and embarrassed” for taking the funds, her public defenders wrote in their sentencing memorandum.

“At the time she took the money, she believed she would be able to repay it,” the defense memo says. Hawkins was trying to help a friend who needed the money for his business, according to her attorneys.

Hawkins obtained the money from the estate of the woman’s brother by transferring it into various bank accounts that she set up. She used the funds to take trips to Jacksonville, Fla.; Greensboro, N.C.; Las Vegas and London, court documents say.

By January 2009, Hawkins had withdrawn all of the inheritance money to use for herself and had stopped paying for the woman’s care, according to court documents.

Hawkins was charged in federal court in the District in May and pleaded guilty in August.

Prosecutors had asked for a sentence at the low end of the guidelines range of two-and-a-half years to three years and one month behind bars.

The defense requested a sentence below that range but was not more specific.

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