Jimika I. Williams, Embezzlement and Wire Fraud, Florida 2022

A former charter school board president in Florida has been found guilty of embezzlement and wire fraud. Jimika I. Williams, a/k/a Jimika Mason, was convicted of two counts of theft concerning programs receiving federal funds and 18 counts of wire fraud.

The case involved Advancement of Education in Scholars Corporation (AESC), a Florida non-profit corporation that operated Paramount Charter School (PCS), a charter school located in Broward County. The school received federal funding through Title 1, which is only paid to a school if more than 50% of the students are eligible for free or reduced cost lunches.

The trial evidence established that Williams was the President of another Florida corporation, Florida Scholars Educational Services Corporation (FSESC). Between 2015 and June 2017, Williams unlawfully enriched herself by making payments totaling approximately $389,857 from AESC’s business account, which was used to operate PCS, for no services to the charter school.

The funds were transferred into an FSESC account and used for Williams’ personal purchases, including payments for a vehicle, a private school, rent, and other personal expenses. The indictment alleged that Williams used the money for her own benefit and not for the benefit of PCS.

Williams faces a maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment for each of the theft of government programs charge and 20 years’ imprisonment for each of the wire fraud charges, as well as substantial monetary penalties and restitution.

Juan Antonio Gonzalez, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Miami, made the announcement.

Williams will be sentenced on June 7, 2022, by the Honorable United States District Court Judge Rodney Smith.

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