Prosecutors say two Westchester County school leaders stole $50,000 meant for at-risk students and spent it on private school tuition, luxury handbags and other gaudy items for relatives. be done.
The Westchester District Attorney's Office says Oliver Levy, now the former superintendent of the Greenberg-Graham Union Free School District, and Surendra Kumar, a former security systems specialist, conspired to pay exorbitant living expenses. He is suspected of misappropriating student funds to pay for his expenses.
Levy and Kumar, who began working in 2008 as teacher aides in a school district serving troubled youth in kindergarten through 12th grade, purchased 168 gift cards between July 2018 and June 2022. , only a portion of the funds were used for school supplies, prosecutors said. he claimed.
Instead, they allegedly funneled some of the money – about $50,000 – into personal expenses such as jewelry, veterinary services, luxury handbags and private school tuition.
Levy, 55, of Stony Point, and Kumar, 48, of Yonkers, were first arrested and charged in May 2024, but the crime charges were upgraded this week.
“Theft of public funds represents a fundamental violation of the public trust. That violation is amplified when it comes to allegations involving institutions that serve our most vulnerable populations,” the district attorney's office said. Susan Cacace said in a statement.
“The funds in this case that were allegedly misappropriated by the defendants could have been used to improve student performance.”
The pair pleaded not guilty in court Wednesday to six counts, including public corruption, grand larceny and grand larceny as part of a government corruption charge.
Lawyers for both men did not respond to emails seeking comment Wednesday night.
The investigation was handled by both the District Attorney's Office and the New York State Comptroller's Office.
“It is reprehensible that school administrators are allegedly stealing from the students they are meant to serve,” said Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli.
After school officials became aware of the troubling charges, Levy was placed on administrative leave until his arrest last year. Journal News reported.
His contract expired during the holidays and was not renewed.
