Stapleton and Johnson Face 37 Charges | Albuquerque News

Sheryl Williams Stapleton, former state rep and APS administrator, is on trial for allegedly diverting over a million dollars in taxpayer funds into her own accounts—she’s now refusing to testify. Her alleged co-conspirator, Joseph Johnson, took the stand, painting himself as the victim, dismissing romantic emails as community slang, and accusing a business partner of forging his name. He also admitted failing to report income from his robotics company, breaking down emotionally over personal tragedies. Prosecutors wrapped up their case after hearing from witnesses, while both defendants’ teams pushed for dismissal. With 37 federal charges—including fraud, bribery, and money laundering—the jury faces a complex web of allegations as the trial continues. 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/d4753660e745a515