Officials used Detroit schools funds for mortgage payments, home goods, prosecutor says

A former Detroit public schools principal, a former accountant, and a Detroit police officer are being charged with embezzling nearly $150,000 in school funds.Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy announced today that Gwendolyn Miller, former principal at Randolph Career and Technical Center is being charged with embezzlement by a public official, and embezzling more than $1,000. She also allegedly had a school furnace installed in her home by a school employee and took merchandise from the school’s boutique. Miller is accused of taking a total of $1,447 in goods and money.The accountant, Eugenia Rose Hollimon, is facing six charges for allegedly using school money to pay more than $29,000 on her home mortgage. She also used a DPS credit card, and allowed her son to make more than $17,000 in purchases on the card. Her son, Eric Hollimon, faces four charges in connection with making purchases on the Sam’s Club Card. Robert Gibson, a friend of Eugenia Hollimon, and former Detroit Police department officer in the communications department, allegedly purchased over $100,000 worth of home improvement supplies and electronics for his home and rental properties. Worthy was joined by Robert Bobb, DPS emergency financial manager, in announcing the charges today. “A principal of a school is supposed to be its educational leader, but its moral and ethical center. A police officer is sworn to uphold the law. We trust our accountants to guard finances ethically,” Worthy said. “The evidence in this case will show that a principal, a school accountant, and a Detroit Police officer stole nearly $150,000 from some of the poorest school children in the nation.” Arrangements are being made for the defendants to turn themselves in to police.