Federal authorities on Wednesday charged Tennessee state Sen. Katrina Robinson (D-Memphis) with theft and embezzlement involving government programs and wire fraud.
This, according to a press release that members of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee published on its website.
Robinson directs the Memphis-based Healthcare Institute (THI), which trains and educates people in the healthcare field.
“Between 2015 and 2019, The Healthcare Institute received over $2.2 million in federal grants from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. During that same time period, Robinson stole in excess of $600,000 from THI by compensating herself in excess of what was allowed under the terms of the HRSA grant and by using Institute funds for payments and purchases for her own personal benefit and that of her immediate family,” according to the press release.
“Payments and purchases included a vehicle for her daughter; clothing, accessories, and hair and beauty products; expenses related to her wedding and honeymoon, and later, legal fees for her divorce; payments on her personal debts, including credit cards, store charge cards, student loans, and other personal loans; travel and entertainment for herself and her family; improvements to her personal residence; expenses related to a body aesthetics business she owned and a snow cone business operated by her children; and an event for her State Senate campaign.”
A member of Robinson’s staff told The Tennessee Star Wednesday that a member of her legal team would contact us. No one did.
Robinson posted a press conference on her Facebook page Wednesday. There, an unidentified woman said Robinson was cooperating with authorities and is eager to share her side of the story.
The THI website, meanwhile, said the school launched in July 2015.
“The program garnered the support of the US Department of Health and Human services, securing $1.6M for the funding of its Educate to Empower program – a dual focus program to educate more Certified Nursing Assistants for entry into the geriatric workforce and to provide community education to the geriatric population of Shelby County, TN,” the website said.
The website also said Robinson secured this federal grant “with no formal training or education in grant writing.”
This funding, the website went on to say, also offers scholarships.
Members of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General investigated Robinson, the press release said.
“If convicted, Robinson faces a possible sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison, 3 years supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. There is no parole in the federal system,” according to the press release.
“The case will be presented to a federal grand jury at a later date to consider an indictment against the defendant.”
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Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star. Follow Chris on Facebook. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Katrina Robinson” by Katrina Robinson.
Don’t steal anything!taxpayers aren’t your personal bank.Can’t stand A theif.
It’s that dang Confederate flag done gone and done it again!
A while back there was a piece in the paper and perhaps here wondering why People are leaving Memphis, an exodus!
i thought, where have these people been under a Democrat rock?
We went to Memphis from Miss for BBQ the places that everyone recommended turned out to be in the worse section of Memphis. I watched our vehicle while my wife ordered it to go.
At the Praymid Bass Pro they have security in trucks continously circling the lots! On the scanner it continous multiple police calls to go to scenes of crimes, shooting etc.
it is the same as Chicago and Portland, Seattle, Savannah, Atlanta and every other Democrat Criminal pandering controlled city!!!
Another corrupt Democrat from Memphis. This isn’t news. This is everyday life in that city.
what? a crooked bolshevik. we must investigate as this has to be wrong. memphis democrats never cheat just ask john ford.
Democrats sure love to spend other peoples money on themselves don’t they? I guess they believe they are “entitled”.
So, who’s taking bets on exactly when Memphis will fall under siege by mobs of angry, looting, SJW’s protesting this injustice? I can already hear the rhetoric, “this is just retribution for Rep. Cohen going after Attorney General Barr”.
a politician from memphis, corrupt???? *clutches pearls* i for one am shocked.
If you want to steal money, establish a non-profit. THI CARES a “non-profit” was established yet no 990’s seem to have been filed. I wonder how much State money went into the Senators pockets. May not be a bad Idea to look at her campaign finance as well.
Are we surprised , typical politicians help themselves to what is ours , pathetic , I bet she claims some kind of disability made her do it , !! Go Trump go