Feds: Tutoring Fraud Case Involves $6M In Federal Funds For Detroit, Highland Park Students
DETROIT (WWJ/AP) - Federal authorities say a former Detroit Public Schools administrator who started a tutoring company has been accused of fraud in a case involving more than $6 million in federal funds for students in Detroit and Highland Park.
The FBI has seized multiple bank accounts belonging to Carolyn Starkey-Darden and her husband, Anthony Darden, after launching an investigation in 2011 into their businesses, The Detroit News reported.
The three companies under investigation are Grants 'N Such, MI Learning Unlimited and the Learning Unlimited Companies. They were formed to provide after-school tutoring to low-income students who attended schools targeted for improvement on federal goals.
A civil complaint says Starkey-Darden ordered the falsification of documents, including inputting false pre-test scores, creating fake individualized learning plans and forging signatures from parents. She also allegedly submitted inflated invoices for unperformed services.
Federal agents say from June 2006 through October 2012, Starkey-Darden's companies received $6.17 million in federally subsidized program money.
No criminal charges have been filed. A status conference is set for June 20 in U.S. District Court.
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