Langston Hughes Academy Charter School

EMPLOYEE SENTENCED TO FIVE YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR THEFT OF FUNDS FROM LANGSTON HUGHES ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL, May 27, 2010, Department of Justice Press Release, United States Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Louisiana

KELLY A. THOMPSON, age 38, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, was sentenced today in federal court by U.S. District Judge Carl J. Barbier to five (5) years' incarceration, announced U.S. Attorney Jim Letten. Judge Barbier also ordered the defendant to pay $673,671.86 in restitution to the victims of her criminal conduct, and particularly the Langston Hughes Academy Charter School and ordered the defendant to serve three (3) years of supervised release, during which time she will be under federal supervision and risk additional imprisonment should she violate any terms of the release.

According to the court documents, on February 25, 2010, THOMPSON pled guilty to theft of federal funds from Langston Hughes Academy Charter School. THOMPSON was employed at Langston Hughes Academy Charter School as the Business and Human Resources Manager/Financial Manager beginning approximately July 1, 2008 until approximately November 6, 2009, and in that capacity, made cash withdrawals and then manipulated the school records in order to conceal the thefts.

U.S. Attorney Jim Letten stated, “ The defendant’s reprehensible crimes directly and negatively impacted the children of New Orleans at a critical time in which this struggling community—and especially our most vulnerable citizens--cannot afford even a single individual putting their own needs ahead of the needs of our children.”

Assistant U.S. Attorney James Mann requested permission for representatives of the Langston Hughes Academy Charter School to address the Court and speak to the damage experienced as a result of the defendant actions. Former Chairman of the Board, Attorney Michael Allweiss, founder and former school CEO, John Alford and seventh grade Social Studies teacher, Andrew Sullivan, all described how the defendant’s crimes robbed the school’s children of much needed resources. They said her theft averaged $1300 per student.

Prior to issuing the sentence, Judge Barbier admonished the defendant saying that this was one of the most horrific crimes he had ever seen and that the defendant’s criminal conduct “was routine, systematic and planned”. The Judge further stated, “You have managed with your crime to deal a devastating blow to the charter school reform movement” and, “You robbed inner city children of educational opportunities”.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Education, Office of Inspector General. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorneys James R. Mann, Chief of the Financial Crimes Unit, and Brian Klebba.

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CHARTER SCHOOL EMPLOYEE PLEADS GUILTY TO THEFT OF OVER $600,000 FROM SCHOOL (Office of Inspector General Investigation Report press release, February 25, 2010)

KELLY A. THOMPSON, age 39, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, pled guilty in federal court today before United States District Judge Carl J. Barbier to theft of federal funds, announced United States Attorney Jim Letten.

According to the documents filed today in court, THOMPSON was employed at Langston Hughes Academy Charter School as the Business and Human Resources Manager/Financial Manager beginning approximately July 1, 2008 until approximately November 6, 2009. THOMPSON admitted that in her position at Langston Hughes Academy Charter School, she would make cash withdrawals while acting in her capacity as Business and Human Resources Manager/Financial Manager and then manipulated the school’s record in order to conceal the thefts. The amount of loss to Langston Hughes Academy Charter School is approximately $660,000.

THOMPSON faces a maximum term of imprisonment of ten (10) years, a fine of $250,000 and up to three (3) years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment. Sentencing is set for May 20, 2010.

2 comments:

The Perimeter Primate said...
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The Perimeter Primate said...

NY Daily News, Dec. 11, 2010: "DOE official tasked with turning around failing schools resigned from last job in disgrace"

Excerpt:
A top city educational official in charge of turning around failing schools resigned in disgrace from his last job, the Daily News has learned.

John Alford, the $130,000-a-year director of turnaround, was hired in October, a year after leaving his post as CEO of a New Orleans charter school because his business manager was charged with embezzlement.

The staffer was ultimately sent to jail for taking hundreds of thousands of dollars from the school over multiple years. Alford was not suspected of any wrongdoing.

"At the end of the day, I take responsibility for allowing this to happen," Alford told The Times-Picayune after he resigned from his position at the Langston Hughes Academy.

City education officials said they were aware of the problems in Alford's past...

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/education/2010/12/11/2010-12-11_doe_official_tasked_with_turning_around_failing_schools_resigned_from_last_job_i.html