Florida Rip-Off Involves Possible Misuse of School Voucher Money
by Jim Brown
July 6, 2004
(AgapePress) - Florida authorities say they've uncovered a scam involving a private school in Bartow that allegedly stole more than $200,000 from the state's McKay and Corporate Tax Credit voucher programs, as well as the federal government's school lunch program.Seven members of a family which operated the now defunct Faith Christian Academy have been charged in the racketeering and money-laundering scheme. Administrative assistant state attorney Chip Thulberry in Polk County says the school inflated enrollment numbers or listed students who were no longer in the school in order to defraud the government of voucher money.
"Our investigation indicates that money was used simply for personal items," the state official explains. "Apparently a number of motor vehicles and perhaps some property were bought, as well as just everyday expenses."
The defendants allegedly used voucher money meant for disabled children to buy a white 2003 Hummer sport utility vehicle with stylized rims and roof rack. Thulberry suspects the scam is likely not an anomaly.
"It does not appear that these defendants are particularly sophisticated people; and if they could come up with this scheme, we believe that there are certainly other folk out there who could do that," Thulberry says. "[T]his should serve as a wake-up call to Tallahassee that more financial controls need to be put in place for these various voucher programs."
Betty Mitchell, the ringleader of the scam and the school's former principal, is a charismatic pastor and self-proclaimed "overseer prophetess."
