Stamford Mayor indicted for diverting more than $300,000 in community and estate funds

ABILENE, Texas - United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, Ryan Raybould, announced that on Aug. 12, a federal grand jury indicted James Michael Decker, the elected Mayor of Stamford, Texas, on five counts of wire fraud for diverting more than $300,000 from multiple community, estate, trust, and livestock association counts.

"Mr. Decker didn't just break the public's trust, he shattered it," said U. S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. "Stealing from charitable foundations, estates and community groups is a deliberate betrayal of the people he was elected and entrusted to serve. We will not hesitate to hold accountable any public official who uses their office as a personal funding source."

"This indictment is a further example of the means that people will use to defraud members of our communities," said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock. "The FBI remains committed to investigating those who abuse their positions of public trust for their own personal gain."

According to the indictment, Decker served as Stamford's mayor and as a licensed attorney, trustee and executor for several estates and trusts. Those positions gave him access to accounts belonging to the Community Foundation of Stamford, the F.H. Estate & Family Trust, the Estate of J.D.B., the N.W. Estate, and the T.A. Livestock Association-despite having no personal ownership in any of these funds.

Prosecutors allege Decker moved money from those accounts into his own personal and campaign accounts, then sent funds to two individuals in Oklahoma with whom he had formed a secret personal relationship. Those individuals had no legitimate business with the city or any of the estates or trusts.

The indictment alleges approximately $308,000 in losses, including:

• $133,000 from the Community Foundation of Stamford
• $84,000 from the F.H. Estate & Family Trust
• $52,000 from the Estate of J.D.B.
• $27,000 from the N.W. Estate
• $12,000 from the T.A. Livestock Association

If convicted, Decker faces up to 20 years in federal prison per count. The indictment also includes a forfeiture notice seeking any property derived from the offenses.

An indictment is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.