CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The secretary for the Nueces County Junior Livestock Show was indicted on 11 counts of wire fraud after it was discovered she embezzled close to $200,000 of the show's money to make payments on her personal credit card.
A federal indictment filed in US District Court in January accuses Sara Rene Chapman of knowingly stealing $172,069.17 from the show's accounts for her personal use by way of 55 wire transactions from 2018-2023.
The indictment charges her with the 11 counts of wire fraud, which total $47,026.53.
Because the payments were made using the Internet, the crimes are considered violations of interstate commerce laws and fall under federal jurisdiction.
The NCJLS is the Coastal Bend's largest junior livestock show. The most recent show took place in January.
The show provides elementary, middle and high school students the opportunity to "promote responsibility and leadership skills through the educational work of 4-H Clubs, FCCLA and FFA Chapters in cooperation with the adult leaders of Nueces County in all phases of agriculture, homemaking and industry," according to the organization's website.
It also helps students sell their livestock and awards scholarship money.
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