Matteson Woman, 2 Others Get Federal Prison Time For Million-Dollar Fraud Against Schools, Nonprofit: US Atty

CHICAGO — A former Chicago school principal and two others—including a Matteson woman—have been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in procurement fraud schemes that defrauded a pair of school systems and a non-profit organization out of more than $1 million, the U.S. Attorney's Office said Thursday.

Brian Metcalf of Maryland, Kimberly Maddox of Matteson, and James Darnell Campbell of Frankfort schemed to illegally profit from various roles Metcalf held in school systems in Chicago and Indianapolis, as well as a non-profit corporation, the U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Illinois said.

Over the course of nearly 10 years, Metcalf and Maddox falsely claimed that Maddox or her spouse were providing services to the schools and the non-profit corporation, when in reality, no such services were provided. As a result of Metcalf’s and Maddox’s fraud, the school systems and the non-profit organization paid Maddox nearly $700,000, which she split with Metcalf.

While Metcalf and Maddox were engaging in their fraud, Campbell, who worked as a consultant, approached Metcalf and said he wanted to join the scheme, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. At that time, Metcalf was serving as the superintendent of a school system in Indianapolis. Metcalf caused the Indianapolis school system to pay Campbell nearly $400,000 based on bogus invoices for consulting work that was never performed. Campbell split those fraud proceeds with Metcalf.

Metcalf, 52, Maddox, 55, and Campbell, 59, pleaded guilty to federal wire fraud charges.

On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Lindsay C. Jenkins sentenced Metcalf to a year and a day in federal prison. Last month, Judge Jenkins sentenced Maddox to two years in prison and Campbell to a year and a day.

All three defendants were ordered to pay restitution totaling $1,099,200.

"When officials defraud school systems, they are eroding trust and stealing from the very futures they are meant to protect," said U.S. Attorney Boutros. "Holding individuals accountable when they exploit their positions for personal gain sends a strong message that such betrayal will not be tolerated and even more, that the Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office and federal law enforcement will work hard to protect the integrity of our education system and to ensure that taxpayer funds are properly safeguarded."

"Administrators who use their position to enrich themselves and deprive CPS families of critical resources will not be tolerated, and neither will vendors who steal from CPS," said Inspector General Wagenknecht. "CPS OIG investigators are committed to rooting out fraud and corruption in the school district, and we greatly appreciate the work of our law enforcement partners in holding these individuals accountable."