An Alabama woman who led a state education advocacy group admitted to crimes which cost the organization more than $2.8 million, federal court documents show.

Doris Joann Gilmore, 61, from Montgomery, Alabama, pleaded guilty this week to federal program theft and failure to submit payroll taxes collected from employees, announced United States Attorney Sandra J. Stewart.

According to the plea agreement and other court records, Gilmore was the Executive Director of the Alabama Association for Career and Technical Education (ALACTE) in Montgomery, Alabama. The ALACTE serves as an advocate on issues affecting Alabama’s career and technical education programs. During the period in question, between 2020 and 2022, the ALACTE received federal grant funds through various state agencies. As the organization’s director, Gilmore was responsible for budgeting, approving payments, and developing and disbursing payroll funds. She also prepared and filed federal and state tax returns, payroll tax returns, and Forms W-2.

Although the total timeframe for the criminal conduct was not specified in court documents, Gilmore specifically admitted to embezzling ALACTE funds during the 2020 calendar year and failing to send payroll taxes to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) that were withheld during the first quarter of 2022. The plea agreement states that Gilmore’s crimes caused a total loss of $2,832,486.30.

A sentencing hearing will be scheduled in the coming months. At that hearing, Gilmore will face a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, along with substantial fines and restitution.

The FBI, IRS’s Criminal Investigation Division, and the United States Postal Inspection Service investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Joel Feil is prosecuting the case.