Wall Co-Op Gin sues Mina Abbott for Over $2 Million as She Heads to Federal Prison

WALL, TX — Mina Louise Abbott, the former general manager of Wall Co-Op Gin, is facing a civil lawsuit seeking over $2 million in damages, filed by the co-op following her recent conviction for embezzling more than $2.1 million. Abbott, who was sentenced to 42 months in federal prison last week, now faces additional legal action aimed at recovering the significant financial losses caused by her fraudulent actions. The federal judge who sentenced her gave Abbott six weeks to get her affairs in order before reporting to a federal prison to start serving her sentence.

The lawsuit, filed in Tom Green County the day Abbott was sentenced, accuses Abbott of breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, and conversion, alleging that she manipulated financial records and stole funds over several years. The suit demands actual damages of $2,146,885.19, along with punitive damages to address the broader impact on the co-op’s reputation and operations​.

Abbott, who had served as general manager since 2013, confessed to her crimes earlier this year, admitting that she wrote hundreds of checks to herself and made unauthorized debit card transactions. An audit revealed the full extent of the embezzlement, which spanned several years and crippled the co-op financially​.

Abbott’s sentencing last week, held at the O.C. Fisher Federal Building, drew more than 50 community members, many of whom expressed their anger and betrayal. The FBI’s investigation revealed that the majority of the stolen money was spent on retail goods, with Abbott’s home filled with boxes from online shopping.

In previous confessions, Abbott claimed she was going to found an online women's clothing store to earn enough money to pay the farmers back. Federal Judge James Hendrix, who presided over the case, noted the severity of Abbott’s theft, especially given the co-op’s importance to the local farming community. On a side note, Hendrix was the federal judge who sentenced former San Angelo Police Chief Tim Vasquez, a public official holding public trust, to 15.5 years in prison for bribery.

Abbott will begin serving her sentence by October 10 and has been ordered to make restitution payments of $200 per month following her release. The Wall Co-Op Gin is also set to receive over $69,000 recovered by local law enforcement​ from Abbott.

The Wall Co-Op Gin, which has been a cornerstone of the Wall community since 1950, has been significantly impacted by Abbott’s actions. Frankie Schwartz, the co-op’s vice president, stated in court that Abbott’s betrayal went beyond just financial theft, accusing her of pitting employees against each other to cover her tracks. The lawsuit aims to recover damages for both the financial harm and the lasting damage to the co-op’s reputation.

Abbott has not answered the lawsuit. When and if she does, you will learn about it on San Angelo LIVE!.