Holding Government Accountable Articles

Las Vegas, NV: Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto announced today the convictions of three defendants accused of stealing more than $50,000 from the Victims of Crime Program.

Tonya Walker was convicted of four (4) Felony counts of Theft; her husband, Prentice Lamar Walker, was convicted of one (1) count of Felony Theft, Aiding and Abetting; and her mother, Ernestine Hunter Walker, was convicted of one (1) count of Felony Theft, Aiding and Abetting.

Tonya Walker, who was employed by the Victims of Crime Program, created fake victim claims files for her codefendant family members from which they embezzled in excess of $50,000 from the VOC Program. After creating the phony claim files, Walker submitted them for payment to the Nevada Victims of Crime Program.

"The Victims of Crime Program is in place to assist crime victims in paying their medical and other related bills associated with the crime," said Attorney General Masto. "Stealing from this program is particularly reprehensible when the offender is a State employee whose job it is to assist victims recover from these crimes."

A jury trial in Department 17 concluded today with the jury finding all defendants guilty of all charges.