Kansas City, Mo. ? A coordinator for two youth injury-prevention programs has been sentenced to a year and a day in federal prison for embezzling nearly $100,000 from them.

Elaine M. Cummins, 52, of Kansas City, waived her right to a grand jury and pleaded guilty in November to program fraud.

“I regret this and I am ashamed,” she said at her sentencing Thursday. “I will always carry that guilt.”

Cummins was program coordinator for the Young Traffic Offenders Program and the Think First Program from June 1999 through May 2003. The Young Traffic Offenders Program consisted of one-day sessions for young drivers convicted of traffic-related offenses in Jackson, Clay and Platte counties. The Think First Program presented speakers at local schools and other youth events.

Cummins admitted embezzling $98,068 from the programs, which were funded through federal grants.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Linda Parker Marshall said Cummins submitted false vouchers and misrepresented the number of programs she had scheduled. Cummins acknowledged that the stolen money fed her gambling addiction.

Before ordering a sentence of prison time and restitution, U.S. District Judge Ortrie Smith said the worst part of Cummins’ crime was she had wounded a program that served young people well.

“I think a period of incarceration is reasonable in this case,” he said. “I regret it. I’m saddened we’re even here today.”