A complicated and slow restitution process in the Bonnie Sue Lawson case just became much simpler.

Also, a second person is being investigated by the FBI for fraud in the case, according to four people who attended a meeting this week between the FBI and Buchanan County officials. That second possible theft could total about $14,000, sources said.

The Social Security Administration confirmed Friday that it will directly repay Ms. Lawson’s victims rather than repay them slowly as Ms. Lawson’s restitution trickles in.

“We will pay those folks back and then go after Ms. Lawson for the money,” said John Garlinger, regional spokesman for the Social Security Administration.

Current Buchanan County Public Administrator Bill McMurray held strong hopes that would be the case. If that hadn’t been the case, Mr. McMurray and the county would have had the “unbelievable” task of dividing Ms. Lawson’s monthly restitution checks of perhaps $200 between more than 100 victims.

That process would not only have been complicated, but it would have done little to relieve any single victim.

“This is the right thing to do, and I’m glad they’re doing it,” Mr. McMurray said. “I applaud Social Security for doing the right thing.”

Ms. Lawson resigned in 2006 as Buchanan County public administrator, an office that oversees funds and care for court-appointed elderly and indigent people. On May 18, she’ll begin serving a 37-month prison sentence after pleading guilty to stealing clients’ Social Security benefits.

Ms. Lawson currently owes $115,658 in restitution to about 160 victims.

A federal judge ordered Ms. Lawson to pay 10 percent of her monthly income, or $100, whichever is greater. She currently collects a LAGERS pension from her own time in office, a pension from her husband Maurice Lawson’s time as a state representative, and Social Security benefits, according to officials in this week’s meeting.

Joe Blumberg can be reached at joeblumberg@npgco.com.