Ex-Official with Northeast Texas Group Guilty in Theft Case

TEXARKANA (AP) – An ex-financial director for a Northeast Texas group dedicated to helping needy people has pleaded guilty to conspiring to steal $1.2 million in federal funds. Cynthia Hillard Campbell of Mount Pleasant remains free on bond pending sentencing in Texarkana. Campbell on Wednesday pleaded guilty, in a plea deal, to conspiracy to commit an offense against or to defraud the U.S. government. She faces up to five years in prison.

Campbell was comptroller for Mount Vernon-based Northeast Texas Opportunities. The agency served Red River, Titus, Lamar, Franklin, Morris, Rains, Hopkins and Delta counties. Eleven people associated with the now-defunct group were indicted in February. Prosecutors allege the suspects, since 2011, wrote checks on agency accounts, shared the cash or spent the money on personal items. Campbell’s co-defendants await trial.