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Detroit Schools Accountant Gets 70 Months For Fraud

DETROIT (WWJ/AP) - A Federal prosecutor says a former Detroit Public Schools accountant has been sentenced to 5 years, 10 months in prison for colluding with her daughter to steal $530,000 from the district through fake billings.

U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade said Wednesday that a judge also ordered 60-year-old Sandra Campbell to repay the money.

A jury found her guilty of conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy and tax charges.

Her daughter Domonique Campbell was a Detroit teacher and faces sentencing Jan. 7.

McQuade says that the mother and daughter set up a sham company and ran orders through it for books and supplies that the Detroit schools never received.

"This sentence sends a powerful message that fraudulently converting DPS resources for personal gain and thereby depriving students of the tools they need to prepare for educational and employment opportunities will not be tolerated," said McQuade, in a media release. "If you steal DPS resources, you will get caught and you will be prosecuted."

The prosecutor says the fraud happened between 2004 and 2008.

(TM and © Copyright 2013 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2013 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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