Ex-Detroit Public Schools Accountant, Teacher Convicted In Fraud Scheme
DETROIT (WWJ) - A former Detroit Public Schools contract accountant and her daughter, a DPS teacher, have been convicted of fraud and money laundering.
Sandra Campbell, 57, and her 38-year-old daughter Domonique were convicted Tuesday by a federal jury in Detroit on charges of program fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy, and tax charges following a five-week trial. The jury returned its verdict after only one-and-a-half hours of deliberations.
According to U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade, Sandra and Domonique Campbell received more than $530,000 from the district between 2004 and 2008 through a fraudulent scheme in which orders were placed with the Campbells' sham company for books and educational materials that the schools never received.
McQuade said the Campbells conspired to defraud the Internal Revenue Service and failed to report the money they fraudulently obtained from DPS as income on their tax returns.
"Anyone who considers stealing from our school children should take note that we are scrutinizing records and conduct, and will prosecute wrongdoers," McQuade said in a statement.
The case was investigated by special agents of the FBI, IRS, and Department of Education-Office of Inspector General, with the assistance of Detroit Public Schools-Office of Inspector General.
"Those who profit at the expense of our children and steal from our community will be held accountable for their greedy actions," IRS Special Agent in Charge Erick Martinez said in a statement.
