Former State Investigator Guilty of Theft of Federal Funds
Posted/updated on: March 28, 2013 at 1:13 pm
BEAUMONT – A 62-year-old Diboll woman has pleaded guilty to theft of federal funds. Melva Darlene Blakemore pleaded guilty to an Information charging her with theft of federal funds on Tuesday in Beaumont before U.S. District Judge Marcia Crone.
According to information presented in court, in May of 2008, while Blakemore was employed as a Senior Investigator with the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, she advised a woman receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance that she had been overpaid $2,520 on her Lone Star Card. Blakemore told the woman that if she did not repay the money, she would be indicted and prosecuted. Blakemore also advised the woman that if the money was paid in cash, with no receipt expected, Blakemore would send the money to someone she knew in Austin and that no charges would be filed.
The woman contacted local authorities who were able to observe her meeting Blakemore in a Nacogdoches parking lot. Blakemore left the parking lot and drove away with the money before stopping to deposit a portion of it into her bank account. The remainder of the money was found in her vehicle. Blakemore faces up to 10 years in federal prison and restitution of up to $31,008. A sentencing date has not been set.
