Jury convicts former New Mexico lawmaker of school fund kickback scheme

Williams Stapleton faces up to 20 years in prison at sentencing

Jurors in Albuquerque returned the guilty verdict Friday at the close of a trial in which Williams Stapleton, 69, declined to testify. The proceedings included testimony from her former colleagues in the Legislature, investigators and tax experts, according to the Associated Press.

The charges stemmed from a yearslong scheme to divert money from public schools to a friend’s company in exchange for kickbacks.

A grand jury indicted Williams Stapleton in March 2024 on more than three dozen counts that included bribery, mail fraud, money laundering and conspiracy to defraud the federal government.

Williams Stapleton, who served as a high-ranking Democratic member of the New Mexico Legislature before the charges, could face up to 20 years in federal prison when sentenced. Her attorney, Ahmad Assed, said all options were being considered, including an appeal.

“We’re obviously very disappointed with respect to the verdict rendered by the jury,” Assed told the Associated Press via a text message. “Based on the evidence we put forward, we were hopeful for a different outcome.”