Federal Authorities Accuse Former Boston School Principal of Misusing $40k in School Funds for Personal Vacations

Former Boston High School Principal Charged with Wire Fraud

Naia Wilson, the former principal of a high school in Boston, has been charged with wire fraud for allegedly stealing around $40,000 in school funds. She is accused of using the money to take luxurious personal vacations to Barbados. The charges were announced by the U.S. Attorney's Office for Massachusetts.

Background on Naia Wilson

The article discusses the career of Wilson, a 60-year-old individual who served as the principal of New Mission High School in Hyde Park, located just south of Boston. Wilson held this position from 2006 to 2019. New Mission High School is a pilot school, which grants it the autonomy to determine how it allocates the funds it receives from Boston Public Schools for each student.

Alleged Fraudulent Activities

According to prosecutors, a woman named Wilson allegedly attempted to steal school funds by making formal check requests to Boston Public Schools' external fiscal agent. She reportedly made these requests from September 2016 to at least May 2019.

A woman named Wilson has been accused of committing fraud by requesting checks to be issued to other individuals, endorsing them to herself, and depositing them into her personal bank account. Prosecutors claim that Wilson used these fraudulent checks to pay for two personal vacations to Barbados in 2016 and 2018, including expenses such as hotels and airfare for herself and her friends.

Legal Case and Potential Consequences

The article reports that Wilson, who is involved in a legal case, has agreed to plead guilty and pay restitution. The exact date of his appearance in federal court in Boston is not yet announced. If convicted, Wilson could face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.

Importance of Protecting Children and Public Trust

The U.S. Attorney's office, along with Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox and Boston Division FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Christopher DiMenna, have announced charges related to protecting children. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy emphasized that protecting children is a top priority and that threats can come in various forms.

Levy addresses the case of abuse of authority and responsibility, emphasizing that individuals who exploit public trust for personal gain will be investigated and held accountable. FBI agent DiMenna adds that municipal workers should be aware of the serious consequences for such behavior, as they ultimately answer to the taxpayers they serve.

Commitment to Responsible Fund Allocation

Superintendent Mary Skipper of Boston Public Schools has stated that the district is dedicated to prioritizing students when it comes to spending its funds. She emphasized that the district takes its responsibility as a steward of public funds seriously. Skipper also mentioned that the district has implemented new internal protocols and procedures to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.

Another Case of Embezzlement

New Mission High School, which has around 260 students in grades 7 to 12, is facing another case of embezzlement. This comes after a previous incident last year, where the principal of St. Thomas More Catholic School in Washington, D.C., Bridget Coates, was charged with wire fraud for embezzling $175,000 and sentenced to 30 months in prison.