Former schools official enters plea in fraud case

PONTIAC (AP) -- A former Pontiac Schools administrator has pleaded guilty in the theft of $236,000 from the financially troubled district. The U.S. Attorney's Office says 41-year-old Jumanne Sledge entered a plea to unlawful conversion of school funds Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Detroit. Sledge had served as head associate superintendent in the district, north of Detroit. Authorities say a district employee was directed in 2010 to write a vendor check payable to "Leadership Academy." They say the check went into an account controlled by Sledge, and about $200,000 later went into another account and went to pay personal expenses. Sledge faces up to 30 months in prison and could be ordered to repay the $236,000. He also has forfeited his Jaguar luxury car and $34,000 in cash. Published: Thu, Oct 11, 2012