A former correctional lieutenant was indicted by a federal grand jury on Tuesday with counts of use of excessive force and obstruction. And Thompson said testimony revealed that 98 percent of the students used in the scheme were white. Its just wrong, Opinion | Sen. Jay Hovey may have meant well, but he was wrong. That is completely unacceptable, said Kori Smith, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Education Office of Inspector Generals Southeastern Regional Office. The defendants named in the indictment are Dr. William L. ("Trey") Holladay, III, 56, a resident of Athens, Alabama and the former superintendent of the Athens City Schools district; Deborah Irby Holladay, 57, of Athens and formerly employed by the Athens City Schools district; William Richard ("Rick") Carter, Jr., 45, also of Athens, currently The Day's Scoop: Your daily email briefing on all things Alabama politics. Peeples most recently served as an inspector in the Inspection Division at FBI Headquarters in Washington. Thompson noted that all of the private schools utilized in the scheme were located in the Black Belt region. The U.S. Attorney's Office in Montgomery has named two former school superintendents in an indictment. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. District, teachers, at odds. RELATED: Limestone County Schools Superintendent Tom Sisk heading to Bristol, TN Board of Education. Making sure that victims of federal crimes are treated with compassion, fairness and respect. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The Los Angeles teachers union's last strike was in 2019. Carter faces up to 20 years in prison in addition to fines and restitution. A former Athens school superintendent has pleaded guilty to conspiring with others to defraud the Alabama State Department of Education by falsely inflating the number of students enrolled in public virtual schools. Corkren also pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft. Dr. Beth Taylor. Co-defendants . We appreciate so much the overwhelming support from our friends and community. It is located 30 miles east of downtown Los Angeles, and is the third-largest school district in Los Angeles County. As a result of this, districts received payments from Alabamas Education Trust Fund as if the students actually attended public schools. The private schools used in the scheme are almost entirely white. Each will have three years of supervised release after serving prison time. They anticipate to have a new superintendent in place very soon. Pomona Unified School District or PUSD serves approximately 30,000 Pre-K-12 students and 17,000 adult learners at 44 schools in Pomona and Diamond Bar, California.It is located 30 miles east of downtown Los Angeles, and is the third-largest school district in Los Angeles County.. We are a family of teachers and coaches. The indictment states the purpose of the conspiracy was to obtain greater state funding allocations through the Foundation Program than they would otherwise have been entitled. A spokesperson for the FBI confirms that "law enforcement action" was taken at the home of Athens City School Superintendent Trey Holladay on Tuesday morning. The following statement was read by Superintendent Beth Patton: The Athens City Schools community is shocked and very concerned to read Tuesdays release from the U.S. Attorneys office. RELATED: Athens City Schools approves separation agreement with former superintendent, $250,000 payment. According to the plea agreement, additional charges of wire fraud and identity theft against Holladay were dropped. Over the past months, Athens City Schools has fully cooperated with the Department of Justice as its investigation proceeded. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. The defendants skimmed the state money through direct cash payments and payments to third-party contractors owned by the various co-conspirators. Now, after months of a federal investigation, the Athens City School Board of Education unanimously approved a $250,000 separation agreement with Holladay. While the school system was mentioned in the indictment brought in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama, the indictment does not name the Limestone County Board of Education or anyone currently involved with Limestone County Schools as defendants. Officials say this settlement payment resolves and eliminates any further compensation as well as other expenses which may have otherwise been obliged to pay related to the matter. is a thirty-one-year veteran public school educator with twenty-seven years in educational leadership.He is in his fourth year as superintendent of the Athens City Schools system in Athens, AL. is a thirty-one-year veteran public school educator with twenty-seven years in educational leadership. The Plaintiffs, in this case, are students who prosecutors say had their identities stolen. Former Limestone County Superintendent Tom Sisk was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison on Tuesday, fined $15,000 and ordered to pay $13,000 in restitution. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. This page is not available in other languages. conspired to tell the state false numbers of students in their school systems, Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. To learn more about The Alabama Education Lab and receive notifications about stories and events, sign up for its newsletter, Ed Chat. The system refers further inquiries about the matter to Dr. Holladay's legal counsel and the federal officials involved." . Others indicted include William Richard Carter, Jr. (Conspiracy, Wire Fraud, Aggravated Identity Theft), Gregory Earl Corkren (Conspiracy, Aggravated Identity Theft), and David Webb Tutt (Conspiracy). Scroll to continue reading. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. . Here, both the Limestone County School District and the Athens City School District received more than their fair share of funding at the expense of even the most cash-strapped school district, Thompson wrote. Former Athens City Schools Superintendent Trey Holladay will be sentenced July 21, along with Gregory Earl Corkren and David Webb Tutt. Former Athens City School teacher Deborah Irby Holladay was indicted on one charge of Conspiracy and numerous charges of Wire Fraud. During the school years that the scheme allegedly occurredthe 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 school yearsthe private school students and parents had little to no connection with the public school districts in which they were supposedly enrolled. Upon reviewing the allegations against Dr. Rick Carter, Athens City Schools has placed him on administrative leave until further notice. Holladay faces up to five years in prison and large fines after pleading guilty. It goes on to allege, "It was a purpose of the conspiracy for Trey Holladay, Deborah Holladay, Carter, Corkren, Tutt, and Sisk to obtain, directly and indirectly, for their own personal use, portions of the increased revenue generated for ACS, LCS, and CCS by the fraudulent enrollment of private school students in the ACS, LCS, and CCS virtual schools.". Alabama Board of Education Vice President Wayne Reynolds told AL.com that the sentences were justified. LIMESTONE COUNTY, Ala. Former Athens City Schools Superintendent Trey Holladay, his wife and former Limestone County Schools Superintendent Tom Sisk are among those named in a federal. Its just wrong, Opinion | Sen. Jay Hovey may have meant well, but he was wrong. There is absolutely no way that we would do anything detrimental to the school system. Holladays next court date was scheduled for February 2022. We are an equal opportunity employer and educator who fully and actively supports equal access for all people regardless of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, national origin or disability. Corkren will pay $1.3 million. Holladay was on leave from June 2020 until his last day with the district on Oct. 31, 2020. The various defendants then received, for their own personal use, portions of the state money. Holladays tenure as superintendent will end on October 31. Now a resident of Montgomery, Holladay pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud the Alabama State Department of Education. This spring, Le Creuset has introduced an exciting new shade thats already selling fast: shallot, a soft lavender with pink and slight gray undertones. The charges against us are unfounded and will be vigorously defended. His previous experience includes system-wide administrator, high school principal, elementary principal, assistant principal, athletic director, classroom teacher, and head . The Alabama Attorney Generals Office also assisted in the investigation. If convicted of the conspiracy charge, each defendant faces a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment, as well as substantial monetary penalties and restitution. In connection with the agreements to acquire student information from the private schools, the co-conspirators paid over $600,000 of the money the Athens district received to the participating private schools and their employees and administrators. A fourth defendant, former Limestone County superintendent Tom Sisk, was sentenced on Wednesday to 18 months in federal prison. PRIVACY POLICY | When I was hired as your State Superintendent, I committed to improving education in our state which includes working closely with our local, state, and federal partners to ensure fiscal responsibility and accountability, so every crucial dollar is spent on educating our students, said Alabama State Superintendent Dr. Eric Mackey. In November 2008, 75% of voters approved Measure PS, a $235 million school bond measure, to provide for the renovation of schools. The public schools in those counties are made up almost entirely of Black students. There are issues that most of Alabama knows we need to address. The indictment also contains substantive wire fraud charges against Trey Holladay, Deborah Holladay, and Carter. Co-defendant William Richard Carter, Jr., who headed up the Athens online school, is set for trial on February 7, 2022. A federal grand jury indicted William Lee "Trey" Holladay III, 56, of Athens, the former Athens City superintendent, and former Limestone County Schools superintendent Thomas Michael Sisk, 55, of . However, over the course of several years, the individuals named in the indictment betrayed the trust of not only our citizens but our students, parents, and other teachers and administrators who continue to work diligently every day. In 1995 the school district bought the former Indian Hill Mall, a failing shopping center built in the 1960s, and . All three must report to the Bureau of Prisons by 2 p.m. on Sept. 1. DIVISION II STATE CHAMPIONS. www.acs-k12.org/board. The indictment states the purpose of the conspiracy was to obtain greater state funding allocations through the Foundation Program than they would otherwise have been entitled to Athens City Schools would then use, directly and indirectly, portions of the excess money to fund the completion of capital projects, including, the new campus of Athens High School. . Such lengths included: creating fake report cards, manufacturing false addresses for the students of the private schools who lived outside of Alabama, and submitting falsified course completion reports to the state department of education. There is absolutely no way that we would do anything detrimental to the school system. Rick Carter, a former principal in Athens, was found guilty by a federal court jury earlier this year for his role in the scheme and is awaiting sentencing. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, WHNT News 19 Sales Team Broadcast and Digital, Former Limestone County Schools Superintendent Tom Sisk pleads guilty to fraud charge, Le Creuset just launched a dreamy new color for spring, Our fitness expert weighs in on this years top spring, Picnic-planning ideas for the spring season, Parents, teachers asks for upgrade to Highland Rim, Status hearing set for Casey White ahead of murder, HPD investigating robbery at Winchester Road business, Lee names fieldhouse after Condrege Holloway, SpaceX Crew-5 Astronauts visit Huntsville, Teen with rare disease prepares for first concert, Met Gala: Tennis star, supermodel reveal pregnancies, U.S. According to the indictment, the defendants obtained student identities to use in their scheme from various private schools located across the stateparticularly private schools in the Black Belt region of Alabama. Defense attorneys filed a motion with the court to delay the trial from its original September start in order to give them more time to . Holladays wife, Deborah, was accused in the federal indictment of establishing a bogus consulting company, which the Athens system allegedly paid to locate virtual students. Holladay was one of three defendants sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson. April 19, 2023. The defendants offered the private schools various inducementsincluding computers, direct payments, and access to online curriculumto persuade them to share their students academic records and personal identifying information with the public school districts. She says following the statement, the board unanimously voted to keep Rick Carter on administrative leave. Former Athens City Schools superintendent William L. Trey Holladay III on Thursday received the maximum sentence of five years in federal prison and ordered to pay $2.9 million in restitution for his part in a multimillion dollar fraud scheme where he ordered private school students to be enrolled as full-time virtual public school students in order to receive state education funding. Subscribe to EDU for a bi-weekly digest of articles.Privacy Policy, Scholastics blog abouteducation and learning. Former Athens City Schools superintendent Trey Holladay has been sentenced to five years in federal prison after pleading guilty to participating in a multiyear scheme to defraud the state. LIMESTONE COUNTY, Ala. - Former Athens City Schools Superintendent Trey Holladay officially pleaded guilty in a multi-million dollar virtual academy fraud scheme on Thursday. In reality, however, the participants of the scheme were falsifying student names and using the personal information of actively enrolled private school students to bump up enrollment numbers. Carters motion for a new trial was rejected by Judge Thompson. Eddie Burkhalter is a reporter at the Alabama Political Reporter. NASAs SpaceX Crew-5 Astronauts Visits Marshall Space Flight Center, Mental Health Awareness Month: Erasing the stigma of mental illness, Athens City Schools approves separation agreement with former superintendent, $250,000 payment, Limestone County Schools Superintendent Tom Sisk heading to Bristol, TN Board of Education. City of Pasadena Celebrates AAPI Heritage Month. 'Trey' Holladay, Ed.D. Ill write about them over and over again. First Day of School 2023-2024. Six of the defendants in the lawsuit former Athens City Schools Superintendent Trey Holladay, his wife Deborah Holladay, ACS Director of Planning Rick Carter, former Limestone County Schools . Because of state laws, Athens Schools officials have been unable to terminate Rick Carter, who was convicted in March of seven felonies. Any defendant convicted of wire or mail fraud faces a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment, as well as substantial monetary penalties and restitution. APRs Josh Moon first reported about the FBIs investigation into Holladay in August when he reported that in less than three years, Limestones general fund budget swelled from a reserve balance of around $2 million to now more than $20 million. Alabamas community colleges have experienced an increase in enrollment by at least 5 percent each year since 2020. 'Trey' Holladay, Ed.D. The school system will continue to work with federal officials and the Alabama State Department of Education as the matter proceeds in court. Marshals, Secret Service assist in Hartselle, Bill passes to ban smoking in car with minor, Tuesday Morning set to close all its stores, 6 in, Domestic abuse victim shares story of attempted murder, BestReviews.com - Top gifts to make everyone happy this spring, Surprise your mom with one of these Mothers Day, Mothers Day inspo: This foot massager has 20,000, Drew Barrymores Walmart collection is perfect for, Best Mothers Day gifts for the budding plant mom, Best Mothers Day Gifts for moms obsessed with books, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. According to a former lawmaker, the FBI and U.S. Department of Education were asking questions about other possible issues within Alabamas virtual schools as late as this fall. Additionally, any defendant convicted of aggravated identity theft could receive a mandatory consecutive two-year sentence on each count. Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan S. Ross, Alice S. LaCour, and Brett J. Talley are prosecuting the case. The Board has not been informed of a date certain for the conclusion of the investigation. The Dept. Holladay now faces a maximum five-year prison sentence and has agreed to potential monetary penalties imposed by a judge, according to court records. Corkren and Tutt each faced a sentence of up to five years in prison and up to a $250,000 fine. ", Public corruption remains the FBIs top criminal priority because public officials must be trusted to do their jobs with honesty and integrity,stated FBI Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp, Jr.The citizens of Alabama should rest assured that the FBI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate corruption at every level and hold accountable those officials who violate the publics trust and use their position for profit or gain., Public officials and employees are obligated to perform their duties and administer funds with integrity and according to requirements of the law, said Alabama Attorney General Marshall. Tom Sisk, who pleaded guilty for his role in the scheme, will serve 18 months in federal prison. David Rothwell Athletic Director at Iredell-Statesville Schools Statesville, NC. The U.S. Department of Justice released an indictment Tuesday related to the investigation of a former Superintendent of Athens City Schools. Scoops about Oxford City Schools . The defendants skimmed the state money through direct cash payments and payments to third-party contractors owned by the various co-conspirators. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Superintendent Trey Holladay is shown in a photo on the Athens City Schools website. The federal investigation has been ongoing since that time. A few years ago, some of the same people excusing Trump's recent indictment were celebrating Gov. The high number of counts, a total of of 127, is because each alleged instance of fraudulent enrollment and identity theft is a separate count. Six people, including two former superintendents, are named in the indictment. Thomas Sisk was the superintendent of the Limestone County, Alabama School District during the times investigated. See WAFFs story below from October 2020 when the Athens City Board of Education removed Holladay from his role as Superintendent. Codefendants Gregory Earl Corkren, David Webb Tutt and Sisk previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the government. Terms of Use Athens City School Superintendent Trey Holladay was placed on administrative leave after federal agents raided his home in June, 2020. Holladay was on leave from June 2020 until his last day with the district on Oct. 31, 2020. School officials have not discussed this matter at the request of federal officials, and will continue to refrain from discussing it. Moving forward, we will be a transparent and accountable school system which provides the best educational experience we can for our students.. HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WAFF) - Former Athens Superintendent William Lee "Trey" Holladay is scheduled to be sentenced Tuesday after pleading guilty for conspiracy in December. ATHENS, Ala. A former Athens City Schools superintendent and a former Limestone County Schools superintendent are two of the six people listed in a federal indictment involving charges of Conspiracy, Wire Fraud, and Aggravated Identity Theft. They also concocted a scheme in which Tutt, Corkren and Deborah Holladay, Trey Holladays wife, created consulting companies that allegedly recruited students to the virtual schools. The defendants named in the indictment are: (1) Dr. William L. ("Trey") Holladay, III, 56, a resident of Athens, Alabama and the former superintendent of the Athens City Schools district; (2) Deborah Irby Holladay, 57, of Athens and formerly employed by the Athens City Schools district; (3) William Richard ("Rick") Carter, Jr., 45, also of ATHENS, Ala. (WAFF) - UPDATE: See details from Thursdays special meeting of the Athens City Board of Education below the details of each individuals charges. Two more of his co-conspirators will join him for at least a portion of that time. Former Athens City Schools Superintendent William "Trey" Holladay was indicted on one charge of Conspiracy and dozens of charges of Wire Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft. Thursday night the Athens City School Board announced they are going forward in making changes in the districts leadership. In fact, as mentioned during the Justice Departments press conference, the indictment does not include any current Limestone County School employees. The three pleaded guilty last year for their roles in the scheme. As a result of this, districts received payments from Alabamas Education Trust Fund as if the students actually attended public schools. The systems received state funds for those students. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. The elections are held on a first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of even-numbered years effective with the 2018 election. The federal indictment claims that Holladay and his wife were the masterminds behind this plan. (STOCK) The trial date in a multi-million dollar fraud case against former Athens Schools Superintendent Trey Holladay and two others has been delayed until early 2022. The FBI started investigating Holladays home in June 2020. Help us combat the proliferation of sexual exploitation crimes against children. His previous experience includes system-wide administrator, high school principal, elementary principal, assistant principal, athletic director, classroom teacher, and head football coach within the state of Alabama. The first of the Measure PS projects were completed in summer 2009. SUPERINTENDENT. School of Extended Educational Options (SEEO), http://www.pusd.org/education/sctemp/d3791dd2c7ae6f68b7dd64a4d6adcbf7/1208669480/District_Boundry_Map.pdf, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pomona_Unified_School_District&oldid=1149498594, Deputy Superintendent, Human Resources: Darren Knowles, Interim Assistant Superintendent, Educational Services: Lilia Fuentes, Interim Assistant Superintendent, Chief Financial Officer: Sandra Garcia, Assistant Superintendent, Pupil & Community Services: Fernando Meza, Fremont Academy of Engineering and Design, Lorbeer Middle School - California Distinguished School, 1999; National Blue Ribbon School, 19992000, This page was last edited on 12 April 2023, at 16:31. of Justice explained in a statement: The indictment alleges that the defendants conspired to fraudulently enroll students in public virtual schools and then falsely report those students to the Alabama State Department of Education.

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