Former director of Sarpy County Court Appointed Special Advocates sentenced for mail fraud
Papillion, Nebraska – A once-respected director of a child advocacy program in Sarpy County now faces imprisonment. Paula R. Creps, the 52-year-old former director of the Sarpy County Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), was sentenced on Thursday to serve six months behind bars.
Paula R. Creps, who resides in Papillion, won’t find her legal obligations ending with her prison term. Following her release, she is mandated to undergo “three years of supervised parole.” To acknowledge her financial misconduct, she has preemptively made a substantial payment. According to the U.S. Attorneys Office in Omaha, Creps has “already paid nearly $45,000 in restitution.”
CASA, under Creps’ leadership from 2015 to 2022, operated with the noble mission of rallying volunteers to champion the rights of juveniles, especially those designated as state wards during court hearings.
However, a stain marred her tenure when details emerged of her illicit activities. While serving as the CASA director, Creps deceptively “obtained approximately $44,885 in goods and services for herself and her family.” This glaring misappropriation involved channeling funds from Sarpy County via a charitable entity, Lift Up Sarpy County.
Her acknowledgment of the crime came promptly as she pleaded guilty in July to mail fraud. The final verdict was handed down by U.S. District Judge Robert Rossiter. This incident serves as a poignant reminder that integrity is paramount, irrespective of one’s professional designation.
