DETROIT – A dozen current and former Detroit Public Schools principals, a district assistant superintendent, and a school supply vendor face federal bribery charges for a scheme that netted about $2.7 million, federal authorities allege.

U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade announced the charges Tuesday stem, and said they from a kickback scheme involving Allstate Sales, a school supply vendor, that ran from 2002 through January 2015. Allstate Sales is run by Noman Shy, 74, Deadline Detroit reports.

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Federal officials allege Shy submitted invoices to the district for items like auditorium chairs, supplemental teaching materials and raised line paper, that he never delivered, and the principals approved the invoices knowing some of the supplies were missing.

Shy then paid principals bribes and kickbacks for their participation in the form of gift cards, cash, and checks directly to them or a third party, according to the news site.

“A case like this is a real punch in the gut for those who are trying to do the right thing,” McQuade told Fox 2 Detroit. “The total amount of the bribes that he paid varied for each of the individual principals but the total was $900,000. In exchange he received payments of $5 million, of that we believe $2.7 million was fraudulent.”

Detroit FBI head David Gelios pointed out exactly why the alleged scam is so egregious.

“As a former educator, this case strikes me to my very core,” he said. “To enrich oneself at the expense of school children is bad enough, but to misapply public funds intended to educate kids in a district where overall needs are so deep, funding sources are so strained, and the need for better education so crucial, is reprehensible and an insult to those educators working every day to make a better future for our children.”

Detroit Metro Times pointed to a viral video that showcases the poor conditions of Spain Elementary that convinced Ellen Degeneres in February to donate a half million dollars to the school for upgrades, renovations and staff funding.

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Spain’s principal, 60-year-old Ronald Alexander, allegedly snaffled $23,000 in the school supply scam, CBS News reports.

Numerous other news reports have highlighted students wearing coats in class, rodents overrunning schools, leaking roofs, and constant complaints about a lack of supplies and resources.

 

Deadline Detroit named the players – all of which are charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bribery – and provided context on their alleged involvement:

  1. Norman Shy (vendor), 74, of Franklin, and Clara Flowers, 61, of Detroit; Flowers is the former principal of Henderson Academy and current assistant superintendent of DPS’ Office of Specialized Student Services. Additionally, Shy and Flowers were each charged with one count of tax evasion for failing to report income.
  2. Beverly Campbell, 66, of Southfield ($50,000), former principal of Rosa Parks School and Greenfield Union Elementary-Middle School;
  3. Clara Smith, 67, of Southfield ($194,000), current principal of Thirkell Elementary-Middle School;
  4. Germla Johnson, 56, of Detroit ($22,884), former principal of Charles R. Drew Academy and current principal of Earhart Elementary-Middle School;
  5. James Hearn, 50, of West Bloomfield ($11,500), current principal of Marcus Garvey Academy;
  6. Josette Buendia, 50, of Garden City ($45,775), current principal of Bennett Elementary School;
  7. Nina Graves-Hicks, 52, of Detroit ($27,385), former principal of Davis Aerospace Technical High School;
  8. Ronald Alexander, 60, of Detroit ($23,000), current principal of Charles L. Spain Elementary-Middle School;
  9. Ronnie Sims, 55, of Albion ($58,519), former principal of Fleming Elementary and Brenda Scott Middle School;
  10. Stanley Johnson, 62, of Southfield ($84,170), current principal of Hutchinson Elementary;
  11. Tanya Bowman, 48, of Novi ($12,500), former principal of Osborn Collegiate Academy of Mathematics, Science and Technology;
  12. Tia’von Moore-Patton, 46, of Farmington Hills ($4,000), current principal of Jerry L. White Center High School;
  13. Willye Pearsall, 65, of Warren ($50,000), former principal of Thurgood Marshall Elementary School