United States Attorney’s Office

CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS (News Release) - A resident of Sandia, Texas, has admitted to defrauding the Nueces County Junior Livestock Show (NCJLS) through a wire fraud scheme, according to U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

67-year-old Sara Rene Chapman, of Sandia, Texas, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. Chapman served as a secretary for the NCJLS from 2010 until 2023. She confessed to using the organization's bank accounts to pay her personal credit card bills via wire transfers from 2018 to 2023, causing a loss of approximately $172,069.17 to the NCJLS.

Chapman's role at NCJLS granted her access to the organization's bank accounts and the responsibility of paying authorized expenses. She began misusing these funds in 2018 to cover her monthly credit card bills, a practice she continued for over four years.

U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos scheduled the sentencing for July 23. Chapman could face up to 20 years in federal prison and a maximum fine of $250,000, along with full restitution to the NCJLS. Chapman has been allowed to remain on bond until the sentencing.

The FBI conducted the investigation into the fraud, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Martin prosecuting the case.