School Accountant and Teacher Guilty on Fraud Charges

A former school accountant, and her daughter, a schoolteacher, have been found guilty on fraud and money laundering charges.

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 Monday by a federal jury in Detroit on charges of program fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy, and tax charges following a five-week jury trial.

Between 2004 and 2008, according to prosecutors, the Campbells obtained over $530,000 from the Detroit Public Schools through a fraudulent scheme in which orders were placed with a sham company they had set up for books and educational materials that were never provided to the schools. The Campbell also allegedly conspired to launder the fraud proceeds and to defraud the Internal Revenue Service, failing to report the money they fraudulently obtained from the schools as income on their tax returns.

“Those who profit at the expense of our children and steal from our community will be held accountable for their greedy actions,” said IRS special agent in charge Erick Martinez in a statement.

The jury returned its verdict after only one-and-a-half hours of deliberations. The case was investigated by special agents of the FBI, IRS, and Department of Education-Office of Inspector General, with the assistance of Detroit Public Schools-Office of Inspector General. The case was investigated and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys J. Michael Buckley and Bruce Judge of the Public Corruption Unit.

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

For reprint and licensing requests for this article, click here.
MORE FROM ACCOUNTING TODAY