A federal jury convicted a mother and her daughter of theft and conspiracy today in connection with a scheme that was uncovered by a wide-ranging state and federal investigation into Alabama’s system of two-year colleges, according to the Associated Press.
Gail Phillips and her daughter, Melinda Sexton, who are employed by the Alabama Fire College, on the Shelton State Community College campus, were found guilty of conspiring to use an outdated appraisal to purchase a house from the community college at half its value, the AP reported. They also were found guilty of using more than $20,000 in college money to pay for renovations in the house. Their sentencing date was not yet set. —Elyse Ashburn
