Current, Former Detroit Principals Charged In Bribery Case
DETROIT (AP) - The U.S. Attorney's office has charged 12 current and former Detroit Public Schools principals, one district administrator and a long-time vendor with conspiracy to commit bribery in school supply kickback schemes. The following lists their names, schools and kickback amounts, along with details of personal financial problems:
— Norman Shy, 74: Shy's Allstate Sales is accused of receiving $2.7 million from the district. Shy also is charged with income tax evasion.
— Clara Flowers, 61: Assistant superintendent in Specialized Student Services and former principal, $324,785. Flowers also is charged with income tax evasion.
— Clara Smith, 67: Thirkell Elementary-Middle School principal, $194,000. Authorities say Smith received $18,000 in personal credit card and bill payments and checks to relatives and friends. A tax lien was filed last year on her home.
— Stanley Johnson, 62: Hutchinson Elementary principal, $84,170. Records show a 1997 Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing.
— Ronnie Sims, 55: Former Fleming Elementary, Brenda Scott Middle schools principal, $58,519. Records show a 2008 sheriff sale notice listed under Sims' name on a home in the Detroit suburb of Sterling Heights.
— Beverly Campbell, 66: Former Rosa Parks and Greenfield Union Elementary-Middle schools principal, $50,000.
— Willye Pearsall, 65: Former Thurgood Marshall Elementary principal, $50,000. Pearsall filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2006 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy the following year. A small claims judgment for $668 owed to a furniture and appliance store was filed in 2012.
— Josette Buendia, 50: Bennett Elementary principal, $45,775.
— Nina Graves-Hicks, 52: Former Davis Aerospace high school principal, $27,385. Graves-Hicks filed for bankruptcy in 2013. A loan default notice was filed in 2014 on a home in Macomb Township. That year she received at least $6,000 in prepaid gift cards from Shy's company, according to the U.S. Attorney's office.
— Ronald Alexander, 60: Spain Elementary-Middle School principal, $23,000. Records show Alexander filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2011. Ford Motor Credit sought nearly $6,800 in a civil judgment. The Internal Revenue Service also sought more than $29,000 in a federal tax lien.
— Gerlma Johnson, 56: Former Drew Academy principal, current Earhart Elementary-Middle School principal, $22,884.
— Tanya Bowman, 48: Former Osborn Collegiate Academy principal, $12,500. Records show a 2010 notice of sheriff sale on a Detroit home on Snowden Street.
— James Hearn, 50: Marcus Garvey Academy principal, $11,500. Public records show a $3,033 state tax lien in 2013.
— Tia'von Moore-Patton, 46: White Center High School principal, $4,000.