(CN) - A Head Start official pleaded guilty Tuesday to embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars from the children's fund by making "vendor payments" to shell companies. His girlfriend then withdrew the money to pay their personal expenses plus the expenses of his wife plus those of a third woman who is the mother of his child.
The former assistant director of tow Head Start programs in St. Albans and La Peninsula Community Organizationsf used two shell companies, DACO Sales & Service and DSA Enterprises, to further the scheme.
St. Albans paid DACO more than $400,000 and La Peninsula almost $200,000. DSA received more than $850,000 over the same time period, according to the indictment.
Blackburn was arrested in November and charged with mail fraud, money laundering and embezzlement. He faces up to 10 years in prison and fines after pleading guilty to embezzlement.
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