ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Nearly two months after investigators
with the New Mexico Attorney General’s Office conducted a sweeping
raid on properties tied to Sheryl Williams Stapleton, the now-former
state representative and Albuquerque Public Schools administrator is
facing numerous felony charges. A grand jury indictment filed Monday
morning accuses Williams Stapleton of racketeering, money
laundering, fraud, and kickbacks among other charges for crimes
alleged to have occurred between 2015 and 2021.

Man, animal or inbetween?

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

“What we moved forward to is presenting a case on September 17th
before a Grand Jury,” said Attorney General Hector Balderas. “That
grand jury returned back 28 charges and we will now move forward to
the part of the process where the defendant will have to go before a
judge either on or before October 5 to be arraigned.”

In a July 2021 search warrant, investigators with the New Mexico
Attorney General’s Office accused Williams Stapleton of
orchestrating lucrative contracts for a company called Robotics,
which was providing educational software to APS students. APS paid
Robotics more than $5 million over 13 years.

According to the initial search warrant in the case, investigators
believe approximately 60% of money paid to Robotics by APS between
2014 and 2021 was subsequently redirected to Sheryl Williams
Stapletons’ business interests, totaling $954,386.04. Investigators
say bank records and surveillance video shows Williams Stapleton
negotiated multiple checks written by APS to Robotics.

Since agents filed the initial search warrant in the case, Williams
Stapleton resigned from her role as a state representative with the
New Mexico Legislature in August. Williams Stapleton held the role
of House Majority Leader until her resignation.

In late August, Albuquerque Public Schools “discharged” Williams
Stapleton from her role as the director of the district’s Career and
Technical Education Department. Several other employees have been
placed on leave while the district continues to investigate
allegations.

Williams Stapleton has maintained her innocence in prior
communications through her attorney. In a statement sent after her
resignation from the New Mexico Legislature, Williams Stapleton’s
attorney Ahmad Assed wrote in part, “There is a high burden to
present evidence to support proof beyond a reasonable doubt that the
State must meet to overcome the presumption of her innocence. Ms.
Williams Stapleton adamantly maintains that innocence.”

In a federal search warrant, the owner of Robotics told agents he
has known Williams Stapleton for more than 30 years after they
attended New Mexico State University together. He also claimed he
was unaware of any wrongdoing. KRQE News 13 asked Williams Stapleton
for an interview but did not hear back. So far, no federal charges
have been filed.

https://www.krqe.com/news/albuquerque-metro/former-state-rep-
sheryl-williams-stapleton-indicted-on-28-charges/