Patricia Adams Lambert, $750k Embezzlement and Test Cheating, Beaum…

BEAUMONT, Texas – The grim halls of the Beaumont Independent School District (BISD) are now the scene of a federal investigation as Patricia Adams Lambert, 60, and Victoria Gauthier Steward, 31, were both indicted today for their roles in a massive embezzlement scheme and conspiracy to cheat on standardized tests.

Lambert, the former Assistant Superintendent, is accused of orchestrating the theft of over $750,000 from BISD. Her alleged schemes included siphoning funds from the booster club at Central Medical Magnet High School (CMMHS) and inflating fees for students enrolled in the Medical Magnet program. Lambert is also charged with directing graphic work to be done through her family member’s companies, which alone resulted in nearly $480,000.

In addition to the financial shenanigans, Lambert is alleged to have directed others to alter students’ test scores at CMMHS. Steward, a teacher at the same school, stands accused of actually changing the tests before submission. This brazen move was meant to bolster the school’s test scores and improve its ranking.

The charges against Lambert include four counts of fraud upon programs receiving federal funds, each carrying a potential sentence of up to 10 years in prison. Both Lambert and Steward face conspiracy charges, with a maximum sentence of five years if convicted.

This case is part of the Joint Task Force established by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas and the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office to tackle major crimes, particularly those involving public trust abuse. The investigation into Lambert and Steward was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Education Office of Inspector General.

For anyone with information regarding this case, contact the FBI at 409-832-8571.