Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Ex-Detroit Public School bookkeeper gets prison in embezzlement

FROM THE DETROIT FREE PRESS -

A former bookkeeper for the Detroit Public Schools is going to prison for 14 months for stealing money from the cash-strapped district.

Allen Swayze, 34, was sentenced today before U.S. District Court Judge Lawrence Zatkoff on charges that he fraudulently obtained money from the DPS by writing more than $148,000 in unauthorized checks to himself. In addition to prison time, he also was ordered to pay DPS restitution in the amount of $148,772.86 – the exact amount of the money he swindled.
According to court records, Swayze worked as a bookkeeper at the Breithaupt Career and Technical Center. He admitted that between August 2006 and May 2009, he wrote unauthorized checks to himself – drawn on the technical center’s bank accounts – and then deposited them into his own bank account.
“We hope that this case will deter others from stealing money intended to benefit our school children,” U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade said. “ Officials who steal school funds will be caught and brought to justice."
Added Roy Roberts, Emergency Manager of Detroit Public Schools: "We will continue to work closely with the U.S. Attorney's Office and law enforcement authorities to ensure that funds and resources intended for students and the classroom are not misdirected for anyone's personal benefit."

No comments:

Post a Comment