Co-Defendant’s Tragic Blind Spot in $2M Heist | Santa Fe News

A grieving father turned unwitting accomplice: Joseph Johnson, co-defendant in a $2M education fraud case, broke down on the stand, claiming he was too distraught after his son’s death to notice millions siphoned from his company via blank checks directed by former House leader Sheryl Williams Stapleton. While his defense paints him as a victim of circumstance, prosecutors zeroed in on his failure to report $450K in public school payments on his taxes — starkly contrasting with his claimed losses. Stapleton, meanwhile, stayed silent on the witness stand, choosing not to defend herself. Closing arguments loom — and this emotional, high-stakes trial may soon reveal who really pulled the strings. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/3b860a41160beee3