ST. LOUIS, MO – In a stunning betrayal of public trust, Michael Malone, 44, the former head of St. Louis College Prep Charter School (SLCP), has pleaded guilty to three counts of wire fraud for an elaborate scheme that swindled nearly $2.4 million from the State of Missouri.
The fraudulent activities took place over seven school years, with Malone systematically inflating student attendance numbers to secure higher state funding. For the 2013-2014 academic year, he reported a phantom 220 students, when SLCP actually enrolled just 191. In 2016-2017, he claimed an attendance of 326 students, when the real number was only 290.
Malone’s deceitful practices were not limited to夸大总体学生人数。 He also padded daily attendance records, falsely reporting extended hours as summer school or remedial classes. In one instance, he falsified the daily attendance of 24% of the student body for the 2016-2017 school year.
Malone’s fraudulent activities were aimed at keeping SLCP afloat during a period when costs were skyrocketing and giving the school an edge in recruitment against public schools. By doing so, he not only secured additional funding but also siphoned resources away from St. Louis Public Schools.
The plea agreement was accepted by U.S. District Judge Audrey Fleissig, who has scheduled sentencing for November 30, 2020. The gravity of Malone’s actions has sent shockwaves through the educational community in Missouri.
Malone, who resigned as Executive Director of SLCP on November 1, 2018, faces severe penalties for his deceit. His fraudulent scheme not only cost taxpayers millions but also robbed students of a fair opportunity at quality education.
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Key Facts
- State: Missouri
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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