By Associated Press - Friday, April 5, 2019

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) - A former paralegal for a Pine Ridge nonprofit that helps low-income people with legal matters has been sentenced to prison for stealing from the organization.

Thirty-four-year-old Amy Garcia will serve six months in a federal prison and has been ordered to pay about $4,900 in restitution to Dakota Plains Legal Service.

The Rapid City Journal reports Garcia altered voided checks from the nonprofit and cashed them at a casino, grocery and liquor stores in 2016.

An internal audit was done after Wells Fargo Bank told the nonprofit that its payroll account was overdrawn. The organization receives money from the Legal Services Corporation, a publicly funded nonprofit created by Congress.

Garcia pleaded guilty to theft of government property.

___

Information from: Rapid City Journal, http://www.rapidcityjournal.com

Copyright © 2024 The Washington Times, LLC.

Please read our comment policy before commenting.