Tennessee State Senator Embezzled $600,000 in Federal Grant Money, U.S. Says

A Tennessee state senator has been charged with stealing more than $600,000 in federal grant money and using it to pay for campaign events and personal expenses, including her wedding, honeymoon and subsequent divorce, federal prosecutors announced Wednesday.

The senator, Katrina Robinson, 39, faces counts of theft and embezzlement involving government programs and wire fraud, according to a criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee.

The money in question was intended to fund a nurse training program at a vocational school run by Ms. Robinson, but instead was siphoned off to add to her salary, help fund her other businesses and pay personal expenses, among other things, according to an affidavit filed with the complaint.

In addition to serving as a state senator, Ms. Robinson, a Memphis Democrat elected in 2018 who represents Shelby County, is director of The Healthcare Institute, a for-profit college that provides training programs for certified nursing assistant, phlebotomist and licensed practical nursing. Ms. Robinson, a registered nurse, founded the school in 2015, according to its website.