Rhymeswithrawk Member Username: Rhymeswithrawk
Post Number: 755 Registered: 11-2005
| Posted on Tuesday, May 29, 2007 - 9:32 pm: | |
Pfft, and we thought the corruption started AFTER he arrived in Detroit. http://freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll /article?AID=/20070529/NEWS07/ 70529052 By SUZETTE HACKNEY FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER Former Detroit Public Schools Superintendent William F. Coleman III was indicted Tuesday in Dallas on charges of conspiracy, money laundering, bribery and obstruction of justice. He was expected to turn himself in today to federal officials in Dallas. Coleman, 52, is accused of taking bribes from a Houston businessman whose company was awarded nearly $40 million in technology contracts, according to the federal indictment unsealed Tuesday. Along with Coleman, the Dallas district’s former chief technology officer is accused of taking kickbacks to help win contracts for Micro Systems Engineering Inc., a computer reseller that provided computer products and services to large corporations and school districts in Texas. “This indictment represents the culmination of many months of excellent investigative work,” said U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper of the Northern District of Texas. “Taxpayers deserve to know that stewards of their tax dollars are trustworthy.” Coleman worked as deputy superintendent and chief operating officer for Dallas schools from August 1999 to September 2000. Coleman was removed from office as superintendent in Detroit in March. The district has hired Connie Calloway of the Normandy, Mo., school district as superintendent. Earlier this month, Coleman filed a lawsuit against the DPS alleging that he was wrongfully let go after asking the FBI to investigate the district's chief financial officer, school officials confirmed. Coleman claims in the filing that the Board of Education retaliated against him for requesting that the FBI look into the activity of CFO Dori Freelain, who he says oversaw wire transfers totaling $12.1 million to Long Insurance Services from 2005 to 2007 without proper approval for the transactions. The suit, filed in Wayne County Circuit Court, also alleges that shortly after Coleman notified the board about the FBI, the board voted not to renew his contract. |