A former Cherokee County employee has pleaded guilty to a federal violation related to embezzling over $400,000 in funds in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. Gina Upshaw, 65, of Jacksonville, pleaded guilty to federal program theft before U.S. Magistrate Judge John D. Love on Aug. 11.
According to the information presented in court, Upshaw was a bookkeeper for the Cherokee County Tax Assessor-Collector's Office from 2008 through January 2022. The Tax Assessor-Collector's Office collects both property taxes and motor vehicle sales taxes, as well as registration fees, from Cherokee County residents, for both Cherokee County and the State of Texas. The office receives the payments in the form of both cash and checks. During her employment as a bookkeeper for the office, Upshaw was responsible for making daily deposits of cash payments at a local bank; instead of doing so, Upshaw stole cash payments totaling $431,375.91.
Upshaw faces up to 10 years in federal prison, a potential fine, and restitution at sentencing. Sentencing hearings will be scheduled after the completion of presentence investigations by the U.S. Probation Office.
Upshaw