Milwaukee City Councilwoman Chantia Lewis, who is running for the Senate Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Was charged Tuesday with four felonies for allegedly stealing $ 21,000 from her own campaign and lying about it.
The criminal complaint said Lewis used the funds from his campaign to travel to a Florida worship conference, pay for classes at a Bible university and make family trips, as well as pay personal expenses such as car bills and cards. of credit, as reported by TMJ4.
The complaint also indicated that Lewis made more than 20 inappropriate cash withdrawals from ATMs totaling more than $ 5,000 in campaign money between 2016 and 2020, according to the local newspaper.
The news led Common Council President Cavalier Johnson to remove Lewis from “all committee assignment tasks,” saying he made the decision “to protect the institution of the Milwaukee Common Council as well as the city of Milwaukee, ”TMJ4 points out.
In a statement reported by TMJ4, Lewis claimed he was innocent of the charges.
“We will make the necessary corrections. But make no mistake, I am innocent of any criminal misconduct,” Lewis said in the statement. “As a first-time candidate in 2016 and, like many grassroots candidates for the first time, I self-funded much of my campaign. My campaign was led by my family and a team of amazing supporters. We did all the possible to lead a positive and compliant campaign. I trust that once this is over, I will be acquitted. “
Lewis’ attorney, Jason D. Luczak, reiterated to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that Lewis is not guilty of the charges and will file his dismissal before the counselor appears in court on Sept. 29.
The charge of embezzlement against Lewis, which is the most serious charge he faces, carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $ 25,000, according to the Sentinel Journal.
The Hill has come up with Lewis’s Senate campaign to comment.
Lewis was first accused of mismanaging finances in January 2020 after accepting gift cards and cash donations for her birthday through Venmo, where her account name is “$ D9th,” according to WDJT.
Lewis ran for Johnson’s Senate seat in July.