Ex-state Employee Admits to Engaging in Fraudulent Scheme

A former West Virginia employee has pleaded guilty a count of engaging in a fraudulent scheme amid accusations that she used her state purchasing card to make more than $3,000 in personal purchases.

The Charleston Gazette-Mail reports 35-year-old Cassandra Renae Taylor entered the plea Monday. She was sentenced to probation and to pay over $3,200 in restitution to the state.

According to a criminal complaint, Taylor was an employee with the state Division of Homeland Security in November and December 2016, when she allegedly made the unauthorized purchases.

A grand jury indicted Taylor on 11 counts of felony misuse of a state purchasing card, along with a count each of felony embezzlement and felony fraudulent schemes in January.

Prosecutors agreed to drop the other charges against Taylor in exchange for her guilty plea.