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Black Democrat State Rep. Stapleton under investigation for alleged racketeering, money laundering

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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Longtime state lawmaker and Albuquerque 
Public Schools employee Sheryl Williams Stapleton is accused of 
stealing millions of dollars from taxpayers. Wednesday morning, law 
enforcement agents executed a search warrant on her home and 
businesses where the allegations were revealed.

Man, animal or inbetween?

https://www.thehistorymakers.org/sites/default/files/Sheryl_Williams
_Stapleton_wm.png

In 1984, Williams Stapleton joined the Albuquerque Public School 
District as an elementary school teacher. In 1991, she was elected 
vice chair of the New Mexico Democratic Party, and later served as 
its chair.

A 32-page search warrant outlines how Stapleton is accused of 
stealing more than $5.3 million from APS, starting 13 years ago. It 
was uncovered shortly after APS Superintendent Scott Elder took over 
and reported suspicious behavior this year.

https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/21018633/aps-
superintendents-letter-to-attorney-general.pdf

According to the search warrant, it didn’t take long for the 
Attorney General’s Office to uncover evidence of possible 
racketeering, money laundering and receiving kickbacks. They allege 
that Stapleton convinced APS to contract with a software company to 
provide services to students. However, they allege that the company 
never produced a workable program and was not a legitimate company. 
They were paid more than $5 million over 13 years.

Wednesday agents were at Stapleton’s home gathering potential 
evidence of that. They were also at her business the “Taste of the 
Caribbean,” a restaurant near the University of New Mexico where 
investigators believed she used some of that stolen money. They also 
allege Stapleton used her position in the Roundhouse to funnel other 
state funds to two nonprofit foundations she ran.

The New Mexico Attorney General says this all went unreported until 
recently. “I would hope the New Mexico legislature will strengthen 
conflicts of interest and certain disclosures in order to mitigate 
some of these risks,” said Hector Balderas, New Mexico Attorney 
General.

Balderas would not say what charged his office is looking to pursue.

According to APS’s website, Stapleton is CTE Coordinator/Director, 
Perkins Project Director for Albuquerque Public Schools. Rep. 
Stapleton represents District 19. She has been a representative 
since 1995. This past legislature, Representative Sheryl Williams 
Stapleton was re-elected as Majority Floor Leader. She is the 
longest-serving Democratic member in the New Mexico House of 
Representatives.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham issued the following statement:

“I am deeply, deeply troubled by the reports this morning about a 
law enforcement investigation into Rep. Stapleton. People are 
innocent until proven otherwise, and I know investigators will 
follow the facts wherever they lead. I await more information like 
all New Mexicans. But I will say that public confidence in 
government is seriously damaged by even the appearance of 
impropriety, or illegal activity, which is why public officials must 
always hold themselves to the highest possible standard of behavior. 
New Mexicans expect and deserve elected officials who, regardless of 
party, will put the people before themselves. Anything less violates 
a sacred public trust and must be dealt with accordingly.”

GOV. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM
New Mexico Speaker of the House Brian Egolf, House Majority Whip 
Doreen Gallegos, and House Majority Caucus Chair D. Wonda Johnson 
issued the following statement:

“We are shocked and dismayed by the deeply troubling allegations 
against Rep. Stapleton. We have counted her as a valued colleague 
and have never seen any instances of impropriety or criminal 
behavior in her work serving in the House, but New Mexicans deserve 
to know that their elected officials hold the highest ethical 
standards and are free of corruption. We will fully cooperate with 
investigating authorities and will closely monitor the situation as 
the facts come out regarding these allegations. We will also begin 
today the Interim Legislative Ethics Committee process to 
appropriately investigate all allegations related to legislative 
service.”

The State Auditor released the following statement Wednesday 
evening:

“The Office of the State Auditor worked with the Attorney General’s 
Office on this case, as it has with many others, and will continue 
to provide support going forward. The Office of the State Auditor 
will always stand for accountability in government and that 
accountability is deeply critical when it comes to elected 
officials.”

https://www.krqe.com/news/politics-government/search-warrants-
executed-at-rep-stapleton-home/?ipid=related-recir

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