The former director of a state commission dealing with Hispanic and Latino affairs is due in court today to face embezzlement charges.
80 year old Maria Mason has been accused of stealing 73-thousand-500 dollars from a state fund meant to pay for a memorial statue of American labor and civil rights activist Cesar Chavez.
The statue has not been built.
She had been director of the commission for nearly 30 years before retiring 2 years ago.
Authorities say she used the money to pay off numerous credit cards, Lansing taxes, auto insurance, utility and cell phone bills and shopping sprees.
