Chaka Fattah Jr. Conspirator Charged With Embezzling Philly School District Funds

By Max Bennett and Justin Heinze

A Gladwyne business man is facing embezzlement charges after allegedly conspiring with Chaka Fattah Jr., the son of the former Philadelphia congressman, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

The indictment alleges David T. Shulick, 46, of Gladwyne, conspired with Fattah, Jr. to defraud the Philadelphia School District through Shulick's company, Unique Educational Experiences, Inc., by misrepresenting the services UEE would provide the district and providing inflated budgets that allowed Schulick to pocket district funds. The indictment claims Shulick used those monies to pay contractors for work on his personal residence as well as a vacation home.

Shulick and Fattah Jr. also conspired to defraud PNC Bank, the indictment charges, by having Shulick act as Fattah Jr.'s attorney and telling the bank Fattah Jr. would file for bankruptcy if Fattah Jr. was unable to resolve debts after he defaulted on a PNC Bank loan. Shulick allegedly sent a letter to the bank, offering to settle the claim for $2,500. The letter included a form which represented that Fattah Jr.’s monthly income was $2,500, but the indictment claims Shulick’s paid Fattah Jr. a salary of $75,000 per year, and that Shulick and Fattah Jr. entered into an agreement to increase Fattah Jr.’s compensation.

The last charge made by the indictment claims Shulick filed false federal income tax returns in 2009, 2010, and 2011. The indictment alleges Shulick failed to report all of his taxable income and improperly claimed itemized deductions.

Shulick faces imprisonment, paying restitution to the School District of Philadelphia and PNC Bank, as well as a fine of up to $3,800,000, if convicted of all the indictment's charges.

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