A former Williamson County school official has admitted to stealing. Thursday morning, Todd Frazier pled guilty to embezzlement and theft.
Frazier, 31, was fired from his job as Carterville school district treasurer two years ago after funds turned up missing.
He was indicted on more than a dozen charges last May, but Thursday, he only admitted to one. Frazier and the judge agreed, he abused his position of trust when handling the Carterville School District's money.
Frazier walked out of the federal courthouse in Benton with a smile on his face. When asked if he would like to say anything on camera, he replied, "No comment, thank you."
School leaders fired Frazier in February 2012 after an audit revealed missing funds. He was indicted on 16 counts and first pled not guilty to embezzlement, theft, forgery, wire fraud, lying to the FBI, and attempting to access computer files at the Bank of Herrin.
Thursday morning, he pled guilty to one count of embezzlement and theft. "It was just a guilty plea. He pleaded guilty straight up," said his attorney John Stobbs.
Frazier admitted to pocketing between $70,000 and $120,000 in the fiscal year ending in June of 2010.
Judge Phil Gilbert found him guilty. He faces up to 10 years in federal prison, a fine of $250,000 and mandatory restitution.
According to his lawyer, Frazier no longer lives in the area. "He lives in Michigan, which is where he was born and raised." When asked if Frazier had a job, Stobbs replied, "Not yet."
Frazier will return to court for his sentencing on May 8.
Carterville Superintendent Bob Prusator says the district has changed some of its policies and procedures, like contracting out payroll services, to ensure this doesn't happen again.
ORIGINAL STORY
BENTON -- Former Carterville School District Treasurer Todd Frazier stood in a federal courtroom Thursday morning and pleaded guilty to embezzlement and theft.
Frazier was fired from the school in February of 2012 after an audit revealed missing funds. Federal investigators accused him of defrauding the district over a four year period.
Frazier, 31, now of Grand Rapids, Michigan, was indicted on 16 separate counts. He first pled not guilty to embezzlement, theft, forgery, wire fraud, lying to the FBI, and attempting to access computer files at the Bank of Herrin.
On Thursday, he admitted to pocketing between $70,000 and $120,000 in the fiscal year ending in June of 2010. Judge Phil Gilbert found him guilty.
His sentencing is scheduled for May 8. Frazier faces up to 10 years in federal prison, a fine of $250,000, and mandatory restitution.
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