Former employee pleads guilty to embezzling $2.5M of Plano ISD funds
A former Plano ISD employee with a penchant for high-stakes gambling has pleaded guilty to federal charges of embezzling at least $2.5 million from the district.
Kris Wilson Gentz, 59, could receive up to 60 months in prison for his role in a financial fraud scheme that lasted from about 2004 through December 2013, U.S. Attorney Malcolm Bales announced Tuesday. Gentz’s employment with Plano ISD, which began in August 2001, was terminated in December.
Plano ISD security officials discovered the crime in November and alerted the Plano Police Department, who in turn brought in agents from the FBI and the U.S. Department of Education after the magnitude of the financial loss was discovered. Plano PD Chief Greg Rushin said Plano ISD cooperated fully throughout his department’s investigation.
Gentz, the manager for security and fire systems in Plano ISD, was a part owner of two shell companies that were on the list of approved Plano ISD vendors, Bales said. These companies would bid on district services, bids that were approved by Gentz in his management role. The companies submitted false invoices for work that was never completed, while Gentz and at least two co-conspirators, one of which is since deceased, pocketed the payments made by the district.
More at http://starlocalmedia.com/planocourier/news/former-employee-pleads-guilty-to-embezzling-plano-isd-funds/article_e8a0a486-b9ca-11e3-94d0-001a4bcf887a.html (Plano Star Courier).
[font color=green]An article in the Dallas Observer noted that Gentz was a security director responsible for maintenance of fire and security systems. His embezzlement scheme lasted for twelve years.
http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfairpark/2014/04/plano_isds_security_director_a.php
One thing to watch is whether the Texas Education Agency will recommend that a board of managers to take over Plano ISD (a predominately white school district) like they did earlier this week with the Beaumont ISD (a predominately black school district) since both school districts were swindled out of millions of dollars in a similar set of circumstances.
(references: http://www.democraticunderground.com/107816736 and http://www.democraticunderground.com/107816084).
Will the TEA set a double standard?
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