AUGUSTA — A former Winslow woman pleaded guilty Tuesday to embezzling thousands of dollars from a school sports team and a sports boosters’ club, while also stealing state welfare benefits.

Wendi R. Willette, 41, now of Whitefield, N.H., entered the plea in Kennebec County Superior Court in Augusta.

Under a proposed sentence, Willette could face up to four years in prison, with all but 18 months suspended, and two years of probation. She remains free pending sentencing at a later date.

Willette also faces restitution payments that total more than $60,000 to the state and more than $10,300 for the thefts from the school sports and sports booster teams.

Willette had previously been indicted on three counts of theft by deception, one count of aggravated forgery and five counts of unsworn falsification in connection with the state fraud. On Tuesday, one count of theft by deception was dismissed.

She was also previously indicted on three charges of theft – stealing more than $10,000 from the Winslow Wrestling Booster Club between Sept. 1, 2010, and July 31, 2013, and of stealing money from the China Girls Field Hockey Team Sept. 1-17, 2013.

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Willette was the Winslow club’s treasurer, and she had helped establish the China girls’ field hockey team.

According to the indictments, Willette received food stamps from MaineCare and the State Supplement Program between Dec. 1, 2007, and Dec. 31, 2013. In her applications, she indicated she and her two sons were the only occupants of her China Road Home and she had no income other than Social Security disability payments.

She also is accused of providing false information to obtain assistance from the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.

The indictment said Willette intentionally failed to disclose that her husband was living at the home and contributing financially to the household. It also said she filed a false 2011 property tax bill with the state on March 6, 2012.


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