A Tennessee senator is facing up to 20 years in prison for allegedly stealing more than $600,000 in federal grant money. In an indictment handed down Wednesday, Senator Katrina Robinson (D) — who also serves as the director of the Healthcare Institute — applied for and received $2.2 million in federal grants on the institute’s behalf between 2015 and 2019. She’s accused of using at least $600,000 of the money “for her own personal benefit and that of her immediate family,” per the indictment.
NEW: Sen. Katrina Robinson, D-Memphis, has been charged federally with theft and embezzlement involving government programs, as well as wire fraud. The FBI has conducted multiple raids of her business and home this year. https://t.co/JCLBM2PI2H
— Natalie Allison (@natalie_allison) July 29, 2020
In addition to using the money for vacations, home improvements, and loan payments, Robinson reportedly paid for her wedding, honeymoon, and subsequent divorce with the ill-gotten funds, prosecutors say. In addition to the prison time, Robinson is facing three years’ probation and a $250,000 fine if she’s found guilty.
