Fred W. Robinson, Wire Fraud and Federal Program Theft, Missouri 2013

A St. Louis man has been convicted of wire fraud and federal program theft in a case involving the diversion of funds from the Paideia Academy Charter School and the St. Louis City Treasurer’s Office.

Fred W. Robinson, the former Chairman of the Board of Trustees for Paideia Academy, was convicted of one count of wire fraud and seven felony counts of federal program theft after a seven-day trial before United States District Judge Audrey G. Fleissig.

The charges against Robinson stem from his submission of false weekly time sheets as an employee of the Treasurer’s Office and the diversion of federal and state education funds from the Paideia Academy Charter School.

According to testimony presented at trial, Robinson diverted approximately $242,333 of Paideia Academy funds for the purchase, construction, renovation, and rehabilitation of a building at 4028 West Florissant Avenue in St. Louis for the purpose of developing and operating a Little People’s Academy daycare center.

Robinson’s partner in the proposed daycare center was a friend and associate who worked as a bartender at a lounge frequented by Robinson and had no background, experience, or training in early childhood education or the operations of a daycare center.

Robinson also submitted false weekly time sheets to the Treasurer’s Office, falsely certifying work hours and was paid approximately $35,360 each year in salary based upon those false time sheets.

Robinson faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and/or fines up to $250,000 for wire fraud and ten years in prison and/or fines up to $250,000 for each count of federal program theft.

Sentencing has been set for July 19, 2013.

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