CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 67-year-old woman has been caught with her hand in the till, admitting to a brazen embezzlement scheme that left a Texas livestock show in the red for nearly $200,000.
Sara Rene Chapman, a 67-year-old resident of Sandia, Texas, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud as part of a scheme to defraud the Nueces County Junior Livestock Show (NCJLS), announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Chapman worked for NCJLS as a secretary from 2010 until 2023, during which time she used the organization’s bank accounts to pay off her own personal credit card bills through wire transfers. This scheme, which lasted from approximately 2018 to 2023, resulted in a staggering loss of $172,069.17.
As part of her job, Chapman had access to the NCJLS bank accounts and was responsible for paying authorized expenses. But instead of using the funds for their intended purpose, Chapman began using the bank accounts to pay off her monthly credit card bills, a scheme that continued for over four years.
U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos has set sentencing for July 23, at which time Chapman faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine, as well as full restitution to the NCJLS.
Chapman was permitted to remain on bond pending sentencing, a decision that has left many in the community scratching their heads. “It’s outrageous that someone in a position of trust would engage in such egregious behavior,” said a spokesperson for the NCJLS. “We hope that Chapman is held accountable for her actions and that she is forced to make amends to the organization and the community she betrayed.”
The FBI conducted the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Martin is prosecuting the case. As the community continues to reel from this shocking revelation, one thing is clear: Chapman’s actions have caused irreparable harm to the NCJLS and the community she was supposed to serve.
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Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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