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Former high-ranking Democratic legislator in New Mexico convicted in federal fraud case
Prosecutors say Thao pressured business owners to pay $10,000 to stop a potentially damaging story tied to a 2023 Vietnam trip.
Sheryl Williams Stapleton, a former New Mexico Democratic lawmaker, was convicted on federal charges for a kickback scheme that redirected over $3 million in public education funds to a business owned by her friend, Joseph Johnson.
The scheme involved funds from Albuquerque Public Schools and federal vocational education grants being funneled to Robotics Management Learning Systems LLC, with Williams Stapleton writing checks from the company's account for personal use.