Former school treasurer sentenced for embezzlement

LANSING, MI--Attorney General Bill Schuette announced the sentencing of former George Washington Carver Academy Treasurer Shantell Bell for her felony embezzlement conviction. The charge filed by Schuette's Public Integrity Unit came as the result of an investigation conducted by the Michigan State Police that revealed Bell allegedly cut a $25,000 check to an Ohio title company to purchase a Detroit home, recording the expense in school financial records as a textbook purchase. Today Judge Carol Youngblood sentenced Bell to five years probation, with the possibility of six months in jail if she fails to meet the terms of her probation. Judge Youngblood also ordered the sale of the home purchased with embezzled funds, which Bell used as a rental property. The proceeds from the sale of the home will be returned to George Washington Carver Academy. ''Criminals who abuse the public trust for their own personal gain will be brought to justice,'' said Schuette. ''We must root out corruption at all levels of government to ensure the public is served.'' On August 5, 2011, a Wayne County jury convicted Bell as charged, on one count of Embezzlement over $20,000. Bell, 37, of Southfield, previously served as the treasurer of George Washington Carver Academy in Highland Park. In March 2009, Bell fabricated a check request in the amount of $25,000 to purchase ''textbooks.'' After receiving the check, which was made out to the alleged textbook company, Platinum Title Services, Bell exploited her authority as treasurer to have the school's bank convert it to a cashier's check. Bell then used the cashier's check to purchase a home in Detroit. Platinum Title Services was not a textbook company as Bell told school officials, but rather, an Ohio-based title company used to complete Bell's real estate transaction. The crime was discovered after Bell's ex-boyfriend reported her actions to the Academy. The Academy later reported the crime to the Michigan State Police. Bell is no longer employed by the Academy. ''I would like to thank the Michigan State Police for their work in investigating and uncovering this crime,'' said Schuette. On January 4, 2011, Attorney General Schuette created a new Public Integrity Unit in the Attorney General's office to ratchet up the fight against corruption in state and local government, protect tax dollars and restore the public's trust in government. The Public Integrity Unit allows the office to put an increased focus on public corruption cases, a priority Schuette identified upon taking office. Copyright © 2011 State of Michigan Published: Mon, Sep 19, 2011

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