Lewis, three others indicted in school construction racketeering scheme

Written By: Jonathan Cribbs
5/26/10
Categorized in: DeKalb News

Former DeKalb County School System Superintendent Crawford Lewis and two school district workers were indicted Wednesday, May 26, in a racketeering scheme that involved school construction projects.

Lewis, who was terminated last month after a 33-year career with the school district, faces several charges: four racketeering counts, theft by a government employee and bribery.

Former Chief Operating Officer Pat Reid, formerly known as Pat Pope, faces seven charges: four racketeering counts, theft by a government employee, bribery and falsifying public documents.

Reid’s ex-husband, Tony Pope, an architect who worked for the school system, was charged with four counts of racketeering, and Reid’s secretary, Cointa Moody, was also charged with four counts of racketeering and theft by a government employee. The grand jury indictment claims Pope fraudulently earned nearly $2.4 million from several district projects, including Columbia and McNair high schools and the district’s new Mountain Industrial Center in Stone Mountain .

District Attorney Gwendolyn Keyes Fleming said the ring was the largest and most serious she has seen in 17 years as a prosecutor.

“We will bring the county one step closer to understanding (the) truth,” Keyes Fleming said.

Check back at www.championnewspaper.com for continued updates.

Comments (8)

greatgodapollodescended

Said this on 5/29/10 At 01:05 am

Sad part is the large population that buys into his defense arguments. Obviously, they have no children in DeKalb schools and are paying no taxes. Why is the county paying Crawford's legal defense and, at the same time, prosecuting him? There is a disconnect somewhere.

Said this on 5/28/10 At 11:57 am

The more things "change" in DeKalb county the more they stay the same. This is just one more set of crimes in a long list.

I don't expect much in the way of justice but hopefully I will be proved wrong. A message needs to be sent that this type of behavior is no longer acceptable in DeKalb.

vivienne

Said this on 5/28/10 At 03:36 am

shame shame shame------------------
sad sad sad-----------------------------------
this is all i can say-----------------------------------

Harry Mozen

Said this on 5/27/10 At 08:58 pm

What sort of an education system is this? After being educated in Dekalb County for 12 years a graduate will be qualified to be a crook.
I once asked someone what was so good about the Decatur School System, that so many folks were willing to pay those horrendous taxes to get their children into them. He replied that the Decatur system wasn't so great, it was just a lot better than the Dekalb Co. system. These people have done a huge disservice to these kids. I hope they get the maximum sentences, although they won't. HM

Name One

Said this on 5/27/10 At 12:54 pm

An incredible embarassment to the school system, and it will take years to recover. The top two employees out of a 15,000 person department indicted under the RIO Act. Plus, Lewis was having an affair with a school system administrator using his DCSS p-card while his wife was battling cancer??!!

Absolutely shameful, and the DeKalb Board of Education allowed and enabled their behavior. Five BOE members are up for re-election this fall, and all need to go. And jeezum, BOE, how about having someone check contracts and purchasing card statements!!

Here's the indictment:
http://www.atlantaunfiltered.com/wp-content/upload...

More coverage here:
http://www.atlantaunfiltered.com/2010/05/26/grand-...

http://dekalbschoolwatch.blogspot.com/2010/05/supe...

withya

Said this on 5/27/10 At 08:30 am

In reply to #1

I hear ya! I have never seen so many power plays, crimes and just total dysfunction as I do with negro elected officials. Didn't we just get through a discrimination case? Is this incompetence, ego? Ugh!

Jessica

Said this on 5/27/10 At 08:04 am

As an Admin. Asst., I hope Ms. Moody's arm wasn't twisted to get involved in this. This is a very sad situation and nobody comes up a winner. The biggest losers in this are the children of DeKalb County Public Schools.

Deliverance

Said this on 5/26/10 At 10:20 pm

With the DeKalb's DA office at the helm, don't expect this case to go anywhere. I am sure it will be seriously botched-up. Crawford, the DA's office - it's all the same county government. Expect rhetoric, but not results.

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