A former Mississippi capital city employee pleaded guilty in federal court Thursday to fraudulently taking tens of thousands of dollars in grants intended for arts projects in the city.
United States Attorney Darren J. LaMarca said in a news release that Keyshia Sanders, 47, pleaded guilty to participating in a wire fraud scheme that violated federal law. Sanders has been the subject of several investigations into her conduct while she served as Jackson’s constituent services manager.
Over a nearly year-long period between August 2020 and July 2021, Sanders used fraudulent invoices to send grant money meant for the city to herself, according to court records. Grants from the Community Aid & Development Corporation, a Georgia-based nonprofit, were supposed to go to artists, artist collectives and small arts organizations of color in Jackson.
US POSTAL SERVICE FRAUD SCHEME INVOLVED NEARLY $5M IN LOSSES, OVER 80 CHARGES
A former Jackson city employee pleaded guilty to a federal fraud scheme Thursday. The suspect illegally sent grant money to the state.
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Fraudulent transactions over the course of the fraud scheme totaled a loss of approximately $54,000, prosecutors said.
Sanders is scheduled to be sentenced on April 20, 2023 in Jackson. He faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
In November, the Jackson City Council voted to launch a second investigation into allegations that Sanders misappropriated federal COVID-19 relief funds intended for city use. Councilman Kenneth Stokes said the whereabouts of at least $1 million in public funds is unknown, WJTV-TV reported.
Sanders’ attorney, Cynthia Speetjens, did not respond to a request for comment.
