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Michigan AG Bill Schuette going after pensions of convicted DPS principals

Posted at 3:39 PM, Oct 21, 2016
and last updated 2016-10-21 17:24:27-04

Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette announced on Friday that he intends to confiscate the pensions of former Detroit Public Schools principals convicted of accepting bribes.

Related: Exclusive: How one principal says he got sucked into the DPS kickback scandal by trying to help kids

Related: Former DPS principal paints herself like "Robin Hood" as she pleads guilty to accepting bribes

According to his office, Schuette is asking the 12 convicted principals to forfeit all state or DPS contributions from the time the bribery began until the time of their termination or retirement.

"“An educator’s first responsibility is to the children of the school, and the individuals that accepted bribes violated that trust and responsibility,” said Schuette. “Actions have consequences, and they should not reap rewards for criminal behavior.”

Ciara Flowers, Beverly Campbell, Stanley Johnson, Nina Graves-Hicks, Gerlma Johnson, James Hearn, Tanya Bowman, Ronald Alexander, Tia'Von Moore-Patton, Ronnie Tims, Clara Smith and Willye Pearsall were all charged with taking bribes. All of their pensions received contribution from DPS or the state of Michigan.

Bowman, the former principal of Osborn High School, was sentenced to nine months in federal prison for accepting more than $12,000 in kickbacks.

Former Principal of Earhart Elementary-Middle School Gerlma Johnson was sentenced to one year in federal prison for accepting almost $23,000.

Alexander was sentenced to one year in federal prison for accepting $23,000 in kickbacks.