Ex-treasurer charged with stealing campaign funds

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) — The former treasurer for the legislative campaign of a New Haven state representative has been arrested on embezzlement and campaign finance charges.

State prosecutors said Friday that 49-year-old Sandra McKinnie of New Haven is charged with embezzling more than $4,000 provided to the campaign of Rep. Gary Holder-Winfield through the state public campaign financing program.

McKinnie was treasurer for Holder-Winfield's 2008 campaign, which authorities said received $25,000 through the program. Prosecutors say she was the only signer for the account, and there were 43 cash transactions totaling $4,270 she could not account for.

Prosecutors say Holder-Winfield cooperated with the investigation.

The lawmaker tells the New Haven Register he was "shocked by the whole situation."

He said he was "disappointed" because the alleged embezzlement "took away part of" his campaign message of changing the way people look at politics.

McKinnie is charged with one count of first-degree larceny and two counts of violating state campaign finance law. She was arrested Friday and released on a promise to appear for arraignment Oct. 2.

A telephone listing couldn't be found for her, and it's not immediately known who is representing her.

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Information from: New Haven Register