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A former East St. Louis librarian and public aid eligibility assistant swiped over $100,000 from her government employers, a court found. Kenyada Harris, 42, confessed to eight counts of wire fraud, theft from federally funded programs, and bank fraud in March 2026.
Harris used the ill-gotten gains on LINK cards meant for low-income families in St. Clair County. Documents show she replaced cards with new ones and used them for herself, family, and friends, netting over $10,000 in losses for the Illinois Department of Human Services.
After leaving her job at the St. Clair County Family Community Resource Center, Harris landed a gig as East St. Louis City Library director, where she continued her embezzlement scheme until her arrest. The judge handed down a 15-month prison sentence, followed by two years of supervised release, and ordered Harris to pay $102,249 in restitution.
“Those who abuse a position of trust and steal taxpayer funds must be held accountable,” said US Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “Public resources belong to the community, not to those who believe they are above the law.”
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📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Public Corruption
- Defendant: Illinois
- Location: IL
- Source: DOJ Press Release
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