Dr. Shawn Williams, a former administrator at the MINA Charter School in Sanford and a one-time Democratic chairman of the Lee County Board of Education, was charged Tuesday with three counts of embezzlement, the Sanford Police Department confirmed Wednesday.
Williams last made headlines in June 2023, when it was revealed that he’d been suspended as the school’s lead administrator pending an investigation into unspecified human resources and financial matters.
Major Vinnie Frazer of the Sanford Police Department said the three counts of embezzlement are for allegedly taking more than $100,000 in school funds, for allegedly changing passwords to school accounts and for allegedly taking files that belonged to the school.
Frazer said the school reported the embezzlement in July 2023 and Williams was indicted by a grand jury on September 9. The Lee County Sheriff’s Office served the warrant on Tuesday. Frazer said the investigation is ongoing and further charges are possible.
Sometime after his suspension, MINA and Williams parted ways, although the circumstances were unclear at the time of this writing. Later, the school changed its name to Rising Leaders Academy.
In addition to his work in education, Williams had been involved as a pastor with God’s Promise Church. He was on the Lee County Board of Education from the late 2000s until 2012, and ran again unsuccessfully in 2014.
Williams was placed in the Lee County Jail under $600,000 secured bond.
Just a correction, it’s Rising Leaders Academy 💙
Thanks, fixed!
That bond is unreal for such an alleged crime. Come on now! Something in the wash is not clean!
Or the wash is full but they haven’t found the detergent yet.
To anyone that does any research on this case you will see things don’t add up. It’s 2024 and to be a black man making a major change in his community then get locked up of alleged charges is unreal and no proof has been given on anything but you can lock this man up and put his bond at 600000 the system needs to be reformed sooner then later.
Hey Shawn, your last name wouldn’t happen to be Williams, would it?
Wait until you see people you thought you could trust come out with sealed indictments. Understand how the law works. You can’t charge anyone unless you have proof, and it goes before a Grand Jury, FIRST. Once the Grand Jury decides they have enough evidence THEN they can be charged. I’m sure he will get out on bail and then he can go to court, and we can find out if he is guilty or innocent.
Maybe his “major change” in his community wasn’t what the good ole boyz wanted. If you only knew how many sealed indictments are in North Carolina at this moment, and all have to go before a Grand Jury before they can arrest anyone, there has to be proof. Unless of course you are Donald Trump, then you can do anything you want.
I’m sure glad Vinnie discovered this. For a while there he wasn’t able to recognize embezzlement.
The irony of it all is that Frazier seems to have found evidence on this case however miraculously did not notice his wife embezzling 100k from the credit union -SMH
Oh really,
Ooh , the plot thickens
No matter who you are, the fact of the matter is that we’re all human. Whether it’s embezzlement or kicking a dog wrong is wrong, so for anyone who sits in the seat of judgment take a look in the mirror. It’s him today but could be you tomorrow. There are real criminals that have hurt the community and done way worse and the system slaps them on the wrist but here you have a true man of God that has been accused and locked up on allegations that has actually made a difference in the community and the lives of many. Shame on you! This man has a family to provide for just like many of you who want him wrongfully convicted. This man of God will rise above all of this whether innocent or guilty. Not because of who he is but because Jesus loves him!