The federal trial for Patricia Walker McGill, former director of the FAMU Institute on Urban Policy and Commerce begins today in Panama City.
In February, McGill was indicted on 21 count, ranging from conspiracy to commit theft from federal programs, mail fraud and seven counts of theft from federal programs relating to educational grants where more than $125,000 was involved. a former Florida A&M University program administrator begins Monday in Panama City.
The trial is expected to last from one to two weeks.
McGill is accused of stealing or embezzling dollars provided by the U.S. Department of Education. Federal investigators also say she used educational grant money to pay others for unauthorized goods and services. Her indictment came after a two-year investigation.
If convicted on all charges, McGill faces several years in prison and more than $5 million in fines.
A co-defendant, Bonnie Segree was also indicted with McGill. Segree was charged with eight counts of McGill's 21-count indictment. Segree's trial will be held separately.
Also see: busted!
As someone who has to work for every dime she gets to spend, if they are found guilty then I hope they throw the book at them. They took a lot of people down with them, and they deserve to spend time in jail. Maybe that will teach other folk not to steal. Please keep posting about the trial.
ReplyDeleteTo 7:35, you can access the story every day at: www.tdo.com
ReplyDeleteThe Tallahassee Democrat has a daily, detailed summary of the trial, with all of the key players (by name). According to Monday's article (6/16/08), Castell Bryant is slated to testify for the prosecution.
That Castell is such a hater!
ReplyDeleteProsecutors: Ex-FAMU manager was 'greedy'
ReplyDeleteBy Angeline J. Taylor • DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER • June 17, 2008
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PANAMA CITY — Jurors listened Monday as two opposing pictures of former Florida A&M program director Patricia McGill were painted in a federal courthouse.
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Federal prosecutors said McGill, 60, was greedy. They said she wanted to live the high life with expensive cars and homes. The $89,000 a year salary she received as director of the Institute on Urban Policy and Commerce at FAMU wasn't enough, said Stephen Kunz, an Assistant U.S. Attorney.
McGill's attorney, Gary Printy, offered another illustration.
"No matter how thin you slice the bacon, there are two sides," Printy said.
He said the former administrator is a 60-year-old grandmother who retired after 30 years with Florida's Department of Education.
"(She's) never been arrested or charged," Printy said of McGill's life before the federal indictment on 21 counts, ranging from mail fraud, conspiracy to commit theft from federal programs to theft of federal programs relating to educational grants. "Obviously she did not believe what she was doing constituted a crime and no one else did," Printy said.
McGill has pleaded not guilty to the charges in her trial that started Monday. Federal prosecutors have said they will call more than 30 witnesses, including former interim FAMU President Castell Bryant.
Bryant in April 2005 suspended the work of the institute, which provided small grants to not-for-profit faith-based organizations. It had a budget of about $1.5 million. The institute's efforts included training minorities to become small-business owners and helping low-income citizens gain access to the Internet. Bryant said at that time she made that decision based on a payroll audit. In May 2005, all institute employees were fired, including McGill.
Printy said the only witness for the defense will be McGill, who came to court with her son and daughter. Her daughter, Joy Walker, is being called as a witness for prosecutors. The trial is expected to last this week.
"This defendant took grant money so she could have more money," Kunz said of McGill.
Kunz would not comment about the case. However, in opening statements and through his first three witnesses, he offered testimony saying McGill was in charge of seven federal grants totaling $1.7 million. The grants were for adult literacy and a 21st Century Grant Program designed to offer educational opportunities for children in smaller counties.
Kunz said McGill's excessive lifestyle consisted of: a $70,000 BMW, a $1,500-a-month mortgage, property near Panacea and a shopping spree of "$16,000 worth of clothing from Neiman Marcus."
He began to establish a case saying McGill siphoned from these grants in different ways that are not authorized by the federal government. Federal prosecutors believe she diverted more than $100,000 for personal use.
Printy disagreed that any crime was committed.
He said his client "followed the policy as (she) knew it based on years of experience."
Three witnesses were questioned Monday. The first was Marsha Asbury — executive staff director of administrative services with the state's Department of Education. Asbury and McGill both worked with grants there.
Kunz and Printy questioned Asbury on what latitude McGill could take in how she used the dollars.
Asbury was followed by Florida A&M employee Wanda Ford — associate controller over contracts and grants. Ford was questioned on FAMU's procedures for grants.
And the final witness of the day was Ruth Attaway, Calhoun County's Clerk of Court. A few of the grants handled through McGill's office concerned small rural counties. That's why Attaway was called. Her testimony ended the day and she will continue today.
A grand jury initially indicted McGill in February. She and Bonnie Segree, 68, of Franklin County, were both indicted in the case.
Segree's trial will take place in Panama City in July. Kunz told jurors Monday that Segree was granted immunity. She will testify against McGill.