ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A federal jury has found former New Mexico House Majority Leader Sheryl Williams Stapleton guilty on all 37 counts in a public corruption case centered on Albuquerque Public Schools contracts.
Jurors also found Stapleton’s longtime associate and co-defendant, Joseph Johnson, guilty on all charges.
The verdict came after jurors began deliberating Thursday in federal court.
Stapleton faced charges including fraud, bribery, conspiracy, and money laundering. Prosecutors alleged she used her position as Albuquerque Public Schools’ Career and Technical Education coordinator to direct district funds to Johnson’s company, Robotics Management Learning Systems.
According to prosecutors, Johnson then provided Stapleton with blank checks, allowing her to spend more than $1.1 million for personal benefit.
During closing arguments, the government urged jurors to “follow the money,” arguing that Stapleton and Johnson failed to disclose conflicts of interest and improperly benefited from APS contracts. Prosecutors pointed to financial records, disclosure forms, and billing documents that they said showed the pair concealed the arrangement and overbilled the district.
Stapleton’s defense argued there was no direct evidence showing a coordinated scheme between the two defendants. Her attorneys acknowledged she received money she should not have accepted but maintained the funds came from Johnson rather than taxpayers.
Johnson’s attorneys argued he was unaware of Stapleton’s actions and claimed an employee provided checks to Stapleton without his knowledge.
Following the verdict, prosecutors requested that both defendants be taken into custody. However, the judge ruled that Stapleton and Johnson will remain out of custody pending sentencing.
The case marks the end of one of New Mexico’s most closely watched public corruption trials, involving a former top state lawmaker who represented Albuquerque in the Legislature for years while working within APS.
Sentencing dates have not yet been announced.
