Former New Mexico lawmaker pleads guilty to diverting public school funds

Albuquerque, N.M. (AP) — A former key Democratic lawmaker in New Mexico, Sheryl Williams Stapleton, has admitted to charges including fraud and money laundering for allegedly siphoning millions of dollars designated for vocational education in the state's biggest school district to businesses and charities she had interests in. The guilty plea comes three weeks after a federal jury found her guilty on numerous related charges, stemming from a scheme prosecutors described as spanning several years.

State prosecutors had filed additional charges against Williams Stapleton in 2021, which were eventually dropped in exchange for her guilty plea. She faces a 10.5-year prison sentence and more than $1.8 million in restitution under the terms of the agreement. The plea ends a trial that was set for October. Williams Stapleton, who served as a former state House majority leader and head of the Albuquerque Public Schools, was first elected in 1994.

She stepped down from her legislative position two days after search warrants were executed at her residence in summer 2021, and the school district subsequently terminated her employment. Prosecutors allege that the district disbursed over $3 million to Robotics Management Learning Systems LLC, a Washington, D.C.-based firm at the heart of the case.

Much of this money originated from federal funds meant for vocational education initiatives. As the district's career and technical education director, Williams Stapleton allegedly facilitated the company's invoices through the procurement process, while her friend and co-defendant, Joseph Johnson, allegedly provided blank checks.

During the federal trial, it was also revealed that Williams Stapleton and Johnson had failed to report thousands of dollars in payments from Robotics on their federal tax returns. Johnson was also convicted in the federal case, though both he and Williams Stapleton have yet to be sentenced, with their attorneys indicating they plan to appeal the verdicts.