BEAUMONT, Texas (AP) — Two top officials of a Southeast Texas school district have been sentenced to prison for stealing more than $4 million from the district.
Devin Wayne McCraney is the former Beaumont Independent School District finance director, while Sharika Baksh Allison is the district’s former comptroller.
U.S. District Judge Ron Clark sentenced McCraney in Beaumont to 5 years and 8 months in federal prison for pleading guilty on April 14 to defrauding programs that receive federal funds. Allison was sentenced to 3 years and 10 months in federal prison for pleading guilty to conspiracy to defraud those programs. They also have been ordered to pay more than $4 million in restitution.
In April, the Texas Education Agency announced it was taking over the district and lowering its accreditation status.
