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Business Owners Admit To Scamming Texas Schools

Bill Zeeble
/
KERA News
Authorities say former owners of a tutoring business were paid about $1.5 million from the Dallas Independent School District and about $1 million from the Fort Worth Independent School District.

U.S. attorney Sarah R. Saldana says two former owners of a tutoring business have pleaded guilty to defrauding several Texas school districts.

Saldana announced Tuesday that 42-year-old Flori Mati and 43-year-old David Mbugua each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to make false, fictitious or fraudulent claims.

Saldana says the two submitted false claims worth about $3.1 million to several school districts for tutoring services that weren't provided to students. Authorities say they were paid about $1.5 million from the Dallas Independent School District and about $1 million from the Fort Worth Independent School District.

Prosecutors say the two wired some of the money they received to Kenya, where it was beyond the reach of U.S. officials. Their sentencing hearing has been scheduled for February.