Founder Pleads Guilty to Embezzling Over $73,000 from Former Charter School in Concord

CONCORD – A Boscawen woman pleaded guilty in federal court to stealing over $73,000 in U.S. Department of Education funds from the former Capital City Public Charter School in Concord, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack announces.

Stephanie Alicea, 49, pleaded guilty to one count of theft from a program receiving federal funds. U.S. District Court Chief Judge Landya B. McCafferty scheduled sentencing for January 6, 2025.

Alicea was the founder of the Capital City Public Charter School (“Capital City”) in Concord, New Hampshire. Capital City offered classes to several dozen students during the 2018-19 and 2019-20 school years. Alicea oversaw the school’s finances and day-to-day operations. Capital City received federal charter school grant funds, which were to be used solely for education-related expenses.

In spring 2020, an external auditor detected irregularities with Capital City’s finances. Specifically, the auditor found that Alicea had spent some of the grant funds on expenses that were personal in nature, including gambling, dining, and travel. In total, Alicea stole $73,253.36 in federal grant funds from Capital City.

Capital City closed after the 2019-20 school year, surrendered its charter in February 2021, and declared bankruptcy in March 2021.

The charge of Theft from a Program Receiving Federal Funds provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to 3 years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Inspector General and Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen is prosecuting the case.