Two former top transportation officials with the Wake County, N.C., school district were charged last week in an alleged scheme to falsely bill taxpayers $3.8 million for parts and supplies.
Three people linked with a local parts supplier also were indicted, according to Colon Willoughby, the Wake County district attorney. The indictment charges that transportation employees conspired with the suppliers to submit fake invoices over two years.
Six former transportation employees have either returned items or agreed to repay the school district, officials said, adding that they would continue their investigation.
One of the former district officials was arrested in July and is being held in jail, but the others charged last week had not turned themselves in.
The 120,000-student Wake County district has severed its relationship with the parts supplier and recovered more than $1.75 million in items and cash since last year. District officials have said they welcomed the investigation.
