Updated at 10:30 p.m. Wednesday
A DeKalb grand jury just indicted former Superintendent Crawford Lewis over irregularities in the state’s third-largest school system’s massive construction program. Indictments were also handed down on Pat Reid, who oversaw construction for the county until she fell from grace from alleged conflicts of interest and sweetheart deals to companies with which her then-husband had ties.
While Lewis did not have a strong vision for DeKalb’s changing school landscape, I did not expect a six-count indictment. A 33-year veteran of the DeKalb district, Lewis has yet to have his day in court, but I am stunned to see him indicted for racketeering (RICO) charges, theft by a government employee and bribery.
After reading the indictments, it seems to me that Lewis is alleged to have risked his career and his reputation for fairly modest gains, including Masters tickets and free hotel rooms.
According to the breaking news story now in the AJC:
Lewis was indicted on racketeering and other charges, school board Chairman Tom Bowen told the AJC. Former schools chief operating officer Patricia Reid, also known as Pat Pope, was also indicted, along with Reid’s secretary and Reid’s former husband Tony Pope, Bowen said.
District Attorney Gwen Keyes Fleming announced the indictments at 4:30 p.m.
Lewis faces six counts: four racketeering (RICO) charges , theft by a government employee and bribery.
Patricia Reid faces seven counts: four racketeering charges, theft by a government employee, bribery, false public document
Tony Pope and secretary Cointa Moody each face four RICO counts.
Lewis did not immediately respond to a voicemail left at his home.
Tony Pope’s attorney Calvin Leipold also could not be reached for comment at his law office.
Pat Reid did not immediately return a message left on her cell phone Wednesday afternoon.
Here are the charges:
- Four counts of violating the racketeer influenced and corruption act against Lewis, Reid, Pope and Moody.
- One count of theft by a government employee against Lewis and Reid.
- One count of bribery against Lewis and Reid.
- One count of falsifying public documents against Reid.
Lewis, 56, faces a maximum of 105 years in prison. Reid, also 52, faces up to 115 years in prison, investigators said.
Lewis did not return a message left at his home. His attorney denied the accusations.
“We are disappointed that the district attorney has brought these charges. They are wrong,” attorney Mike Brown told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “Dr. Lewis has not committed any crimes. And we are going to fight really, really hard to prove that.”
According to investigators, the scheme had begun in 2006 and involved the three school officials concealing information from the school board, altering documents and giving work to Pope’s architectural firm.
“All of the parties used their positions and the resources of school system to facilitate theft, fraud and obstruction, whether for personal gain or for the benefit of others,” Fleming said. “The money received by Tony Pope was then funneled to Pat Pope.”
Lewis, who was terminated last month, hired Reid as chief operating officer in October 2005 to run the school district’s multi-million-dollar school construction program. At the time, Reid and Pope were still married
When she was hired, the couple was told he could complete one on-going school construction contract but could not work on any additional school projects, Fleming said.
But Lewis and Reid ignored that stipulation, the indictment alleges. The two, along with secretary Moody, 48, conspired to get Pope contracts. This was accomplished by issuing illegal change orders, altering construction projects and leaking information to Pope, all behind the school board’s back, Fleming said.
219 comments Add your comment
TeachParent
May 26th, 2010
11:07 pm
I am looking at seven furlough days in the coming year (which equals an almost 4% pay cut), more students in my classroom (already overcrowded), and an increased workload. IF they are proven guilty, I’m hoping all four enjoy their multitude of furlough days that will be coming their way. I also hope all of them “sing” about all the others involved so that we can clean up this crap heap of a central office.
Barb
May 26th, 2010
11:23 pm
I can’t figure it out. What was in it for Dr. Lewis? Did he get kickbacks? Is there a money trail back to him or does it end with the Popes? I don’t see it in the in powerpoint.
The suggestion of Pat Reid/Pope blackmail seems plausible in a lack of obvious Lewis profit.
Or have I just missed something?
And I am one that was shocked… didn’t expect quite the level of of criminal activity.
M G
May 26th, 2010
11:26 pm
Barb,
Where did you see the powerpoint? The actual indictment is available on atlanta unfiltered and the 11Alive websites.
Educator2
May 26th, 2010
11:35 pm
Dr. Jim Williams as superintendent … that must be a joke!
From Georgia
May 26th, 2010
11:39 pm
I read the indictment. All parties need to lawyer up ASAP. This is going to get crazy.
Melissa
May 26th, 2010
11:52 pm
Where is Mark Elgart?
Not Shocking
May 26th, 2010
11:58 pm
This stuff’s been going in dekalb for years. This lowlife has been stealing the county school system blind, but due to the race card, no one ever does anything.
DeKalb Corruption
May 27th, 2010
12:04 am
The corruption is so embedded in DCSS this just highlights the collaborative efforts of Crawford/Reid there is much more corruption such as hiring relatives and friends and then hiring their family members and friends. These people have interesting salaries and positions. The connection of school board menbers and their hired family and friends and their salary and positions. The business connections between the BOE and DCSS. The lack of fiscal accountability with school system purchases (unnecessary new textbooks purchases, travel accounts, etc.) and programs (poorly designed system software, America’s Choice, etc.). The ENDLESS corruption deals being made in the DCSS with the use of taxpayer money and on the backs of teachers, paraprofessionals and students is appalling.
Ros Dalton
May 27th, 2010
12:16 am
A copy of the indictment can be found here:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/32029252/Crawford-Lewis-DeKalb-RICO-Indictment
Wounded Warrior
May 27th, 2010
12:27 am
WHAT TOOK SOOOO LONG? GLAD SOMEONE HAS A MORAL CODE IN DEKALB. IS J.TOM PROSECUTING?
concerned
May 27th, 2010
12:29 am
I wonder if @Keith and cobb Mother – really believe what they are saying or if they are what I call WEB Pimps! Selling something to get you off the subject.
Can we all say BP!! Louisiana coastlines….oil spills – White CEO……..read Common Sense blog people.
Wonder what will happen to CLewis bowtie people, family friends and a*** kissers? Why does Senator Ronald Ramsey name continue to be mention (head of internal affairs of DCSS)?
Atlanta Media Guy
May 27th, 2010
12:36 am
Those parents at Nancy Creek were so close to exposing this fraud two years ago but were shrugged off by Atlanta Media and shit down by CLew and Dale Davis. Even the AJC’s Kristina Torres called those parents “loud and vociferous”! How much did CLew pay Ms. Torres to slide that “opinion” into her article?
I seem to remember Clew’s State of the District address at First Baptist Atlanta off 285. Parents at Nancy Creek, who were wearing red, were being threatened with arrest by Dale Davis for passing out literature that explained some of the malfeasance of DCSS. Like, the cut and paste job of the Fairfax County, VA demographers report that cost DCSS up to 100K. Sembler trying to buy the property on Briarcliff Road. No communication with County Planning Officials. Former BOE members kids getting raises and NOT showing up for work, at his new job, for 6 months! Ms. Tyson was his boss at the time. The hits just keep on coming, like the indictment reads. Nepotism was rampant under CLew.
It’s time for the taxpayers of DeKalb to protest this at the BOE press conference tomorrow. The louder the taxpayers are and the more they demand change and the resignations of every member of the upper management at DCSS, the media might take notice. How can the taxpayers regain the trust of the school system with any of these Friends and Family of Clew still on the payroll?
A DeKalb Teacher who now truly believes in karma
May 27th, 2010
12:39 am
I hope that all DeKalb taxpayers, parents, and teachers (and you Maureen) attend this press conference tomorrow and raise their voice.
The following came from DeKalb County School System:
________________________________________________________________________________
MEDIA ADVISORY
WHO: DeKalb County Board of Education
What: PRESS CONFERENCE
When: Thursday, May 27, 2010 @ 10A.M.
Where: Robert R. Freeman Administrative Center, Building A
J. David Williamson Board Room
3770 North Decatur Road
Decatur, GA 30032
Atlanta Media Guy
May 27th, 2010
12:52 am
Interesting that the Press Conference is at the old building on North Decatur. When is this move going to be complete? I have never witnessed a move that has taken this long. I guess they don’t want the taxpayers to be snooping around at OUR new 30 million dollar Central Office.
I think it’s great for Ms. Keyes, she has done a service to the taxpayers of DeKalb. This will cost us some money but in the end we must weed out the bloated salaries at the Central Office. Everyone must resign, if the DCSS wants to regain the trust of the taxpayer.
It might be sad day to some but it’s a wonderful day for Dekalb’s kids. Maybe we can find real adults to run the system and make it great!
cobb mother
May 27th, 2010
1:08 am
So When are they going to indict Turner Construction, who also got caught using illegals on the Marietta Courthouse and the Jacksonville Courthouse. The indictment speaks for the corupt culture of Turner Construction, since they were the one of the Primary suppliers of Tickets. What about her buddy that she gave the Heery contract too. When are charges going to be filed against them, Moody, Merit and Nix Mann.
Poor Dekalb Tax Payers are going to have to pay big bucks for the work that was stolen by the bid rigging and illegal firings from Heery, Brown Architects, and Winter Construction. I am sure these three firms and several others will be seeking the lost profits that were stolen from them.
When is Turner going to be put on the do not bid list, they are as bad as Halburtin.
Druid Hills
May 27th, 2010
6:36 am
DeKalb County used to have the best school system in the state.
….Today it is real bad, almost as bad as Clayton County.
concerned
May 27th, 2010
7:00 am
Did anybody notice that the only person smiling on their mugshot is Pat Reid/Pope?
fairfax educator (formerly gwinnett)
May 27th, 2010
7:12 am
@concerned…that isn’t a mug shot of Pat Pope/Reid..(whatever her name is). That is just a regular photo. The other 2 are mugshots.
Tired of seeing this
May 27th, 2010
7:30 am
I am so SICK & TIRED of seeing Black folks getting caught up in these crimes…allegedly. [cough] Whites have done stuff like this for years, but they mostly have the good ol’boy system to hide their mess, at least for a while. Some do get busted–Skandalakis, Swindall, others. Even Gov. Perdue seems to be corrupt, IMO. But after all the struggle to actualize rights and equal access in this country, I expect more of my people. I HATE what Atlanta has become–politically and celeb-crazy socially–and would actually love to see the White folks take over for a while; let’s see some of their mess again. Stand up and walk straight, people.
But, perhaps it’s just politics or human nature in this modern world, because it seems that too many people are misbehaving and acting immorally. We need decency laws and harsher punishments for crimes. And we value underachievers and minimize people of true value who actually do good. I don’t recognize this city or this country. Stop the world, I want to get off…or at least just become a beachcomber.
Wish I wasn’t such a news junkie; too much mess.
jg
May 27th, 2010
7:55 am
Pitiful – Shameful – knew he was a skank years ago. Need to get rid of the school board too – you know they were well aware of all the nonsense going on yet they give the guy a raise. He is nothing but the Vernon Jones of the DeKalb County School System. The sad thing of all of this is that the DESERVING teachers and staff will never be compensated for all the work they have done over the years and I will be surprised if any of these people ever see a day in jail or reimburse the county.
A Realist
May 27th, 2010
7:59 am
Is Ms. Moody related to the construction contractor CD Moody?
teachertoo
May 27th, 2010
8:18 am
I am just sad. I teach because I love to teach. I teach in Dekalb and the county office has done everything in their power to take the joy out of teaching. I feel the entire BOE owes the teachers, staff, and custodians an apology. We work hard, we take care of the kids, we have to defend ourselves when angry parents come after us for holding their children to higher standards. There is no support from the county, the County office is crooked. They have misspent our money, and cut our salaries while demanding more. Our principal is a puppet, not allowed to do what she knows is best because of fear of being on the “wrong list” It is sad, I am sad…and if you say go to another county…it is called last hired first fired. Cannot afford the risk, so yes I teach in Dekalb, and yes I will continue to work hard and do my job but I have lost all respect for those that are supposed to be the leaders.
Bonnie W. Mason
May 27th, 2010
8:21 am
These indictments have nothing to do with Crawford Lewis being a black man. I am ashamed to see comments indicating such. Black or white, we are called to be honest when we are given power. Was he honest? I don’t know. What I do know is that he was not always fair to the people serving under him.
Scribbler, a former DeKalb County teacher
tc
May 27th, 2010
8:26 am
congrats to the da for prosecuting, but methinks dekalb was ripe with corruption from previous admin…amazed at the number of folks who use government for their exagerrrated enrichment, not only is it a jobs program but a ponzi scheme for many of the leaders
New School
May 27th, 2010
8:26 am
Where is the racial diversity?
dekalbobserver
May 27th, 2010
8:51 am
Love it when the crooks go down. Crawford Lewis deserves to spend a long time in prison, especially after showing so little regard for the public as to believe we are gullible enough to believe that load of horse dung story that he told when he got caught buying multiple tanks of gas on the same day on his county-issued credit cards (said he “accidentally” put premium gas in his county-issued vehicle, then siphoned it out and replaced it with regular). Give me a break.
jg
May 27th, 2010
8:52 am
@teachertoo – I am so sorry they do this to you. I remember years ago when they moved assistant principals around and when the parents complained – we were basically told to stop complaining or they would make more changes.
Corey
May 27th, 2010
9:05 am
Intentionally doing something wrong requires a lot of thinking which can lead to fatigue and sloppiness(an undotted i or an uncrossed t) which results in ones house of cards eventually collpsing.
Corey
May 27th, 2010
9:06 am
and not enough sleep can lead to poor spelling (collapsing)
Jo Blo
May 27th, 2010
9:12 am
Cobb Mother: You want to know where Pat Pope came from? Ask Stan Pritchett…another one who needs to be investigated, along with employees that were promoted under his administration!!! There are retired mechanical foremen who did the same thing! I am sure the list of criminals within this system could go on and on! These FINALLY got caught. It took long enough. Lewis should loose all of his retirement benefits, and the others should pay back their salaries and profits!!!
Chess
May 27th, 2010
9:20 am
Pat Swindle was here…….
Elle
May 27th, 2010
9:23 am
This is no racial matter…just plain hard facts!!!
Understanding Atlanta
May 27th, 2010
9:25 am
This blog is funny to me. Corruption has plagued society since its inception. Doesn’t make it right.
Absolute power corrupts absolutely.
It doesn’t matter what you classify yourself as, absolute powere corrupts. Halford thought he could drive drunk, Brown that he could run away from money he stole in TX, Lewis that the people he trusted were credible. Everyone has their issues, no one is going to be perfect. As taxpayers we need people who work for the better of the students, in spite of their personal shortcomings.
EMMA
May 27th, 2010
9:29 am
@ Keith: Aunt Esther said “Watch It Sucka” LOLOLOLOLOL Black people make bad leaders? This is why this country will remain in the state that it is today and go no further. Ummmmm, isn’t a CEO, President, a leader of a company? So Madoff who robbed people of millions was he a leader or just a joe smo con artist. When Enron Executives lost millions of other peoples monies were they not leaders? When the South Carolina politician had an affair as many have are they leaders? I don’t think any of these people were Black, but correct me if I’m wrong, or are they from another courntry and don’t claim to be of European desent. What exactly is your definiton of a leader? I bet I can name a lot of white leaders more than you can name black leaders that fell off the wagon.
JEWELL ROLLEN
May 27th, 2010
9:31 am
WHEN CRAWFORD TOLD THAT “CRACKHEAD” STORY ABOUT SOME RANDOM STRANGER SIPHONING THE GAS OUT OF HIS CAR I KNEW HE WAS GOING DOWN. AND, AS FOR PAT POPE, SHE HAS MANNY AS HER LAWYER. EVERY HIGH PROFILE CLIENT HE HAS EVER HAD HAS GONE TO JAIL! SEE YA PAT…..
DeKalb Educated
May 27th, 2010
9:43 am
If there was objective oversight over the spending then this would not have taken place. I work for the government. I turn in an expense report – every charge I make on the govt credit card is reviewed and I have to defend any purchases made and have my receipts. I don’t make money and I don’t use my credit card for anything outside of official business. Trust me, I would never buy gas for my car when I was home and not traveling for the gov. They would catch and I would get more than my hand slapped. I would lose my job. Do you not remember the CDC official who was caught buying Victoria Secret lingerie among other items with her govt credit card? She went to prison for four years! She lost her job. She was disgraced. Why can’t DeKalb have someone audit the hiring of personnel and spending of the personnel. If they did, then there would be enough money to raze and rebuild Lakeside High, keep every teacher and para-pro in their classroom. My grandmother was a teacher in a one room rural school house. She managed her 26 students in grades 1-8 for years before she finally had a real school. No coaches. No assistant supers. No admin staff. We can rid of over half the central office and save so much money. Start with recalling the school board, electing new members, firing anyone at the Central office who was ever related to a school board member. Focus on the students.
Lee
May 27th, 2010
9:48 am
Personally, I’m beginning to question how much the school board knew of this mess. I mean, they see the financial reports. They see the monthly status reports which SHOULD show major vendors, cash flows, expenditures, etc. They SHOULD have seen the early report from the auditors that identified the bidding discrepancies.
Either they are asleep at the wheel (negligent) or complaisant.
JD
May 27th, 2010
9:57 am
Does this mean that SACS is going to get involved now?
Mz. J
May 27th, 2010
10:01 am
Where is SACs? If this happened in Clayton County SACs would have been all over this a long time ago.
Also, go to open.ga.gov and look at some of these salaries, there are many people getting paid ridiculous amounts of money that does not line up with their years of experience and degree level. Yet teachers are steady being furloughed and denied step increases due to “budget cuts”. The budget is being cut from the hardworking to provide inflated salaries to the “who you know” crowd.
I am so over education, where are the auditors?
ed
May 27th, 2010
10:09 am
Why is anyone surprised? Don’t you follow the daily crime reports and who’s committing the majority of felonies. Judge not by the “color of the skin…judge us by our character.” What a joke! MLK, it was a good line in a long ago speech, but that’s all that it was. A line.
Ross
May 27th, 2010
10:20 am
I grew up in DeKalb County in the late 60s/early 70s. It was literally squeaky clean. Now, we have the most outrageous crimes committed in seemingly every aspect of public life – Jeezus H the Sheriff was a common murderer! Now this – what is WRONG with these people? What the hell happened to this once proud and progressive county?? When did Americans lose all ability to control themselves and run even the simplest aspects of their government? If it’s not right wing lunatics or left wing froo-froos, it’s a common crook RUNNING THE ENTIRE SCHOOL SYSTEM. It’s just depressing beyond words.
jg
May 27th, 2010
10:39 am
I am so ashamed for DeKalb – there are so many wonderful teachers/staff in this county. My kids have been blessed by some of the most wonderful people at Henderson Mill, Henderson Middle, Lakeside and even Open Campus – cannot begin to thank them enough for all their hard work and dedication. To have witnessed this behavior from the TOP is shameful.
Atlanta Media Guy
May 27th, 2010
10:50 am
I am outraged that the press conference the BOE is holding this morning is NOT on PDS-24. This would have been a great way to be transparent to the teachers, administrators, parents and taxpayers while they explain what is going on. DCSS is in shambles and until the current leadership resigns nothing will change.
Philandrea Guilroy, Francis Edwards daughter, makes over 115K a year to run this cable access channel.. There are production managers at 2, 5, 11, and 46 who make a lot less and do three times the amount of work. Ms. Guilroy please resign, your two minutes of fame are over! By the way, while you’re at it have your husband resign as well as your brother and other cousins who work in DCSS.
Ms. Tyson want to regain our respect and trust? Time for wholesale resignations from everyone in the upper management including yours.
Barb
May 27th, 2010
10:53 am
I found the powerpoint on the Daily Report: http://www.atlawblog.com/2010/05/dekalb-da-school-chief-involved-in-racketeering/#more-287
Rather getting into racial stereotyping and the “whose been doing it the longest” game, we Dekalb residents better get serious about our governance.
Right now we have a Deputy Police chief quitting under bribery charges; our Fire Chief has just resigned as a result of a bungled call. We have a past Police chief saying he was kidnapped by government leaders & a CEO using additional police protection. And – Nowhere did our elected school board leaders provide the kind of checks,balances and oversight a 300 billion dollar pot of SPLOST money demands.
And I haven’t even started on the finances of both the county government & the school system. The declining tax base or the low level of scholastic achievement in the school system.
I think we should all be acutely aware that many individuals with the school system and construction trade had to know about this on-going criminal activity. The culture of corruption is pervasive. Someone signed the checks; covered Tony Pope’s work profile and worked along side these people.
DCSS will be a long time recovering from this legacy and without an outside administrator coming in and aggressively cleaning house nothing will change.
Big Question—- Does our elected School Board really want a clean house or do they want business as usual???
Barb
May 27th, 2010
10:55 am
I found the powerpoint on the Daily Report: http://www.atlawblog.com/2010/05/dekalb-da-school-chief-involved-in-racketeering/#more-287
We Dekalb residents better get serious about our governance.
Right now we have a Deputy Police chief quitting under bribery charges; our Fire Chief has just resigned as a result of a bungled call. We have a past Police chief saying he was kidnapped by government leaders & a CEO using additional police protection. And – Nowhere did our elected school board leaders provide the kind of checks,balances and oversight a 300 billion dollar pot of SPLOST money demands.
And I haven’t even started on the finances of both the county government & the school system. The declining tax base or the low level of scholastic achievement in the school system.
I think we should all be acutely aware that many individuals with the school system and construction trade had to know about this on-going criminal activity. The culture of corruption is pervasive. Someone signed the checks; covered Tony Pope’s work profile and worked along side these people.
DCSS will be a long time recovering from this legacy and without an outside administrator coming in and aggressively cleaning house nothing will change.
Big Question—- Does our elected School Board really want a clean house or do they want business as usual???
former
May 27th, 2010
10:55 am
elsieyes and insidedive22 know what’s going on. it’s time to put Jamie Wilson, Tekshia Ward-Smith and Marcus Turk all under the microscope. I bet they aren’t feeling too well these days . . .
Keep in mind that even if someone isn’t committing a crime, they are just as guilty if they watch it happen and sit in silence . . .
@ Sally B
May 27th, 2010
10:57 am
“as a teacher in Dekalb for 32 years who worked overtime every single day and at home at night… I never once received overtime pay.”
Very strict overtime rules were instituted in late fall, 2007. All DCSS employees outside the schoolhouse were told we had to declare the 8 hours we would work – i.e. we could decide to work from 7:30 to 4:30 or 8:00 to 5:00 or 8:00 to 5:30, etc. We were required to sign in and out and had to take an hour for lunch. We were strictly forbidden to work any overtime. We were told any time we needed to work over the 8 hours, pre-approval must be sought, and if approved, and we would be paid time and a half (that happened a few times). We were told this was a response to a lawsuit by the bookkeepers in DCSS who were suing because they had been forced to work overtime without pay.
Dr. Lewis exempted all members of the schoolhouse – teachers and the administrators from overtime (they already signed in and out to make sure they worked 8 hours so that continued). Perhaps it was reasoned that teachers were certified, contract employee so they could work overtime without pay. (e.g. teachers may need to stay overtime for faculty meetings, staff development, parent meetings, etc.). Not being one of the “upper management” personnel, I don’t know how they rationalized it. I tried to find out.
I pointed out that everyone in my department were certified contract employees even though we were outside the schoolhouse, and we were told not to work any overtime unless we got time and a half. I said I didn’t think it was fair for teachers inside the schoolhouse to have to work overtime without being compensated yet we were being compensated and we were certified contract employees. I asked what was the difference? I was told Dr. Lewis had made the decision that the overtime decision would not apply to teachers and administrators in the schoolhouse, but would apply to everyone else. There was no room for discussion.
I was always surprised teachers didn’t get upset that certified contract employees outside the schoolhouse were getting overtime while they weren’t.
I’m retired now so I don’t know what the status of the overtime rules are.
job
May 27th, 2010
10:57 am
It’s all about the money. You have retired employees leave with big lump sum of money and then get GOVERNMENT CONTRACT WITH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AND MAKE A BIG LUMP OF MONEY OFF OUR TAX DOLLARS, BUT TEACHERS ARE LOOSING JOBS BECAUSE OF NO FUNDS AVAILABLE. WHAT A RIP OFF?????
NOBama 2012
May 27th, 2010
10:57 am
I will agree, it’s not about Race, it’s just our typical politicians being greedy and dumb. Money makes people do dumb things. My only question is, how in the world does a secretary make $43000 in overtime. Didn’t anybody in payroll catch this? Send them all to prison, because the end result is they stole from the children!!!!!!
TS
May 27th, 2010
11:01 am
All of these people deserve the same outcome as Ken Lay – lock them up for their crimes against this country and our taxpayers and let them kick the bucket in a jail cell alone.