Detroit Public Schools Teacher, Accountant Found Guilty of Money Laundering and Fraud

Katie Pavlich | August 06, 2013 3:00 PM

In the city of Detroit, 47 percent of adults are functionally illiterate. Students in Detroit's public school system have a higher chance of going to prison than they do of graduating high school. The average teacher salary in Detroit is

$71,000.

Yesterday, the FBI announced the Detroit Public Schools contract accountant and a teacher have been found guilty of money laundering, tax evasion and fraud.

Sandra Campbell, 57 a former Detroit Public Schools contract accountant and school board candidate, and her daughter, Domonique Campbell, 38, a Detroit Public Schools teacher, were convicted today by a federal jury in Detroit on charges of program fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy, and tax charges following a five-week jury trial, United States Attorney Barbara L. McQuade announced today. The jury returned its verdict after only one-and-a-half hours of deliberations.

McQuade was joined in the announcement by FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert D. Foley, III and Special Agent in Charge, Erick Martinez, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation.

The evidence presented at trial established that between 2004 and 2008, Sandra Campbell and Domonique Campbell obtained in excess of $530,000 from the Detroit Public Schools through a fraudulent scheme in which orders were placed with the Campbells’ sham company for books and educational materials never provided to the schools. Sandra Campbell and Domonique Campbell conspired to launder the fraud proceeds and to defraud the Internal Revenue Service and failed to report the money they fraudulently obtained from the Detroit Public Schools as income on their tax returns.

United States Attorney Barbara L. McQuade said, “Anyone who considers stealing from our school children should take note that we are scrutinizing records and conduct, and will prosecute wrongdoers.”

But the Campbell duo aren't alone when it comes to dysfunction, corruption and bad behavior within Detroit Public Schools. Just a few years ago, now former president of the school board Otis Mathis, fondled himself during a public meeting. Naturally, his inappropriate behavior was defended by a school board colleague who argued Mathis, 55- years-old at the time, was simply a "naive young man" about appropriate behavior. All of these people are Democrats.

UPDATE: Books were never provided to the schools? No wonder Detroit kids, and adults, can't read.