A Muslim Pennsylvania state lawmaker, Rep. Movita Johnson-Harrell (D) has been charged for allegedly stealing half a million dollars from a charity she founded. She has been charged with numerous charges of theft, perjury, and tampering.
You may remember her for claiming she was offended in the State legislature when a Christian prayer was delivered at the opening of the session.
At this point in time it should come as no shock that Johnson-Harrell looted the charity she started. The amount of the theft is a hefty five hundred thousand dollars.
She had started a charity named Motivations Education & Consultation Associates, or MECA, a charity meant to collect donations to help the homeless, seniors and children.
The prosecutors claim that she spent the money on luxury vacations, expensive car payments, real estate purchases, designer clothing and overdue mortgage payments.
She indicates that she may be innocent of some of the charges but also said she is ready to take responsibility for anything she may have done wrong, like stealing half a million from charity.
Shapiro said in the statement that she had turned herself in, had confessed to the crimes, and had agreed to leave the Pennsylvania Legislature.
“Her theft knew no bounds,” he said.
Later, in a statement released through her lawyers to the Associated Press, she said she disputed some the charges.
“I am saddened and dismayed by the nature of the allegations brought against me today,” Johnson-Harrell said.
“I vigorously dispute many of these allegations, which generally pertain to before I took office and I intend to accept responsibility for any actions that were inappropriate,” she added.
Johnson-Harrell had founded MECA in 2006.
She had been the first Muslim representative elected to the Pennsylvania Legislature.
