Highland Park Asst. Principal Faces Embezzlement Charge
HIGHLAND PARK (WWJ) - A Highland Park assistant principal is expected to be charged with embezzlement Wednesday.
WWJ City Beat Reporter Vickie Thomas said Dr. Samuel Craig, the assistant principal at Highland Park Community High School, is expected to be charged with embezzling between $20,000 and $50,000 in union funds. Craig, a Belleville resident, denies the allegations.
The State Attorney General's Office was tipped off by school board member Robert Davis, who said Craig used union money for campaigning for the school district's superintendent position.
The following investigation revealed that 54-year-old Craig allegedly exploited his role as the union's treasurer to embezzle more than $36,000 of the Highland Park Association of School Administrators funds for his own personal use.
Between April 2009 and March 2011, Craig allegedly acquired signed checks from union officials who understood the checks would be used to pay legitimate financial obligations for the organization. Instead, it is alleged Craig wrote the checks out to himself and deposited the funds for his own personal use.
Attorney General Bill Schuette also alleges Craig authorized electronic funds transfers to his own personal accounts and procured a debit card allegedly used for personal expenses without the Association's knowledge or authorization.
Craig served as the elected treasurer for the Highland Park Association of School Administrators while he was employed as an assistant principal in the Highland Park School District. His regular responsibilities included overseeing the union's financial accounts, including making deposits and paying obligations, as approved by the Association's leadership. According to Craig's resume, he also teaches at Concordia College in Ann Arbor.
Craig faces one charge of embezzlement and one charge of fraudulent use of a financial transaction device. If convicted, he could face up to 14 years in prison.
