Schools
Ivy Academia Founders Convicted of Misappropriation of Public Funds, Other Charges
Sentencing for the husband and wife is July 18.
The founders of the Ivy Academia charter school in the San Fernando Valley were convicted Friday of misappropriation of public funds and other charges.
The Los Angeles Superior Court jury deliberated more than five days before finding Yevgeny "Eugene" Selivanov, 40, guilty of 25 felony counts, including seven counts of misappropriation of public funds, six counts of embezzlement by a public or private officer, two counts of money laundering and 10 counts of filing false tax returns.
Jurors also found true an allegation against him that the loss exceeded $65,000. The panel acquitted him of a third count of money laundering.
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His wife, Tatyana Berkovich, 36, was convicted of two felony counts of misappropriation of public funds and one felony count of embezzlement by a public or private officer, along with five misdemeanor counts involving tax returns. She was acquitted of eight other counts, including five felony charges involving the tax returns.
Jurors found not true an allegation against Berkovich that the loss exceeded $65,000.
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Selivanov is facing up to 19 years in state prison, while Berkovich is facing up to 7 1/2 years behind bars, according to Deputy District Attorney Sandi Roth.
The two -- who are no longer affiliated with the school -- are due back in court for sentencing July 18. Over the prosecution's objection, Selivanov was released on $250,000 bail and Berkovich was freed on $40,000 bail.
"It was shown that the defendants criminally abused the finances of the Ivy Academia charter school," Deputy District Attorney Dana Aratani said.
Selivanov's attorney, Jeffrey Rutherford, said after the verdict, "We're disappointed with the verdict. We will continue to fight the case."
The defense lawyer said he anticipates filing a motion seeking a new trial.
"If we don't win it on that, we will continue to fight it on appeal," Rutherford said.
The Los Angeles Unified School District's Office of the Inspector General began an audit of the school in June 2006.
The case was referred to the district's Office of Investigations in August 2006, then in May 2008 to the District Attorney's Public Integrity Division, which filed the case in June 2010.
Charter schools are operated with public funds.
Ivy Academia has locations in Chatsworth, Woodland Hills and Winnetka.
