CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - Federal prosecutors have accused the former office manager of a legal aid clinic in Charleston of fraudulently taking $1.5 million over 12 years.
Authorities say Kim Cooper, of St. Albans, oversaw daily operations at the Mountain State Justice office, including bank deposits.
The criminal complaint filed Tuesday alleges Cooper defrauded the nonprofit that provides civil legal services to low-income West Virginians.
Prosecutors say she secretly established a separate bank account in the nonprofit’s name, deposited checks for attorneys’ fees, then moved money to a private bank account for herself and a relative.
They allegedly used it to pay rents and make car and credit card payments from June 2004 until last March.
She’s also accused of tax evasion.
A call to her attorney, a federal public defender, wasn’t immediately returned.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.