Employees of Detroit Public Schools (DPS) including twelve principals have been charged for their alleged roles in a kickback scheme. The bribery and conspiracy among those charged reportedly started in 2002.
According to CBS Detroit, the charges were filed on Tuesday afternoon to 12 principals, a vendor, and an assistant superintendent. The main man being investigated for the scheme is school supplies vendor Norman Shy.
It was indicated on the court filings that the school officials colluded with Shy to earn money from school supplies that were never delivered to the schools. As per court documents, it was indicated that Shy paid more than $900,000 in kickbacks to the principals.
"[It was] in exchange for their agreement to certify and submit, and cause to be certified and submitted, fraudulent invoices to DPS for payments to Shy for goods that were not delivered," the court documents read. It was also indicated that the kickbacks and bribes were given in the form of cash, checks, and prepaid gift cards.
Among those charged were Clara Flowers, Beverly Campbell, Clara Smith, Germla Johnson, James Hearn, Josette Buendia, Nina Graves-Hicks, Ronald Alexander, Ronnie Sims, Stanley Johnson, Tanya Bowman, Tia'von Moore-Patton and Willye Pearsall. They are expected to face a five-year jail term and a fine of up to $250,000.
"It is a heavy blow to public confidence when so many school principals are charged with bribery," said U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade in the CBS Detroit report. "Public officials should take note that while it may seem easy to take bribes when they are offered, officials who betray their public trust will eventually get caught and will face the consequences."
The U.S. Attorney added in a Detroit Free Press report that they have taken necessary steps to investigate and bring to justice the officials who breached the trust of the institution. She explained that an audit started the investigation with former principal Kenyetta Wilbourn Snapp admitting to the wrongdoing and promising to cooperate with the investigation.
