A Milwaukee woman now admits she sold food stamps and will testify against another woman who appeared to have confessed to the crime with her during an episode of TV’s “Judy Justice.”
Java’la Elam, 26, pleaded guilty Monday in Milwaukee County Circuit Court to a felony charge of knowingly trafficking food stamps between $100-$5,000. She also pleaded to a misdemeanor charge of knowingly trafficking food stamps of less than $100.
In court, Assistant District Attorney Nicolas J. Heitman requested sentencing for Elam be adjourned, pending the resolution of charges against Elam’s co-defendant, Katrina L. Weems, 41 . Elam is set to testify against Weems during Weems’ trial in a couple of months as part of a plea deal with prosecutors.
If Elam fully complies with the agreement, prosecutors plan to dismiss the felony charge against her and proceed only on the misdemeanor count, court records show. Sentencing will be up to a judge.
The maximum penalty for the misdemeanor is 90 days in jail, a $1,000 fine or both. Elam faced up to 3½ years in prison and $11,000 in fines had she been convicted of both the felony and misdemeanor.