Former DISD Executives Indicted
Submitted by Allen Gwinn on Tue, 05/29/2007 - 13:16.
A federal grand jury has indicted former DISD executives William Coleman and Ruben Bohucot. Coleman was DISD's Chief Operating Officer and Bohuchot was technology chief. In addition, indictments were handed down against Frankie Wong, then co-owner and President of Micro Systems Engineering.
[Read the DOJ Press Release] [Read the Indictment] [Kent Fischer: a "bilking"]
The indictments came down after Pete Slover of the Dallas Morning News exposed the questionable relationship between Bohuchot, Coleman and Wong.
According to the indictments, the three conspired to channel lucrative technology contracts through Wong's business (MSE): "the three ran an elaborate and very profitable bribery and money laundering scheme involving DISD technology contracts.
Bohuchot was fired from the District, sued, and ultimately reached a settlement. Shortly thereafter, he was found in a questionable relationship in another district (Read: New Flap for Former DISD Executive (Ruben Bohuchot).
Coleman who, according to this , was placed on leave from his job in Detroit in March, is still driving around in a Detroit Public Schools issued SUV.
DEVELOPING
Good Riddance to Rojas et al
I pray that these guys are the last from the short lived but disastrous Rojas regime and am glad they have been indicted.
Because the media will re-tell the story during their trial, we still can't move on.
Rojas was hired in haste by school trustees who, except for Ron Price, are no longer in office.
Let this serve as a reminder of the importance of school board elections and the obligation of Dallas ISD residents to participate in the process.
Move on?
How do we move on when the board we now have in place is as dishonest as the one with Rojas? Let's "move on" by setting up strict guidelines to who can even qualify to get elected to the Board of Trustee's and also lets get someone as chief who has the experience to run a large school district, Hinojosa is a poor result for a leader.
I think it great that the media rehash over and over what a "Black-eye" Dallas is to the nation in education our kids and they sure don't pass when it come down to character.
Selective Justice
What is amazing is that my former company Sciebervision reported suspected fraud with a computer RFP (Request For Proposal) from DISD that was won by this same company.
I spoke to the then Attorney General, who thought enough of my complaint to put me in touch with the FBI.
I had the FBI invited to my apartment to review my files and the winning bid that went to two companies with the SAME PHYSICAL address.
And still nothing was done as Micro Systems won the bid.
The testing date was changed, and my company was not notified as a authorized vendor,
WHY?
Then our company was not notified of the winning bid as we had to call daily. Then only to discover that the DISD purchasing Dept. could not find our $25K Cashiers check.
Neither the Attorney General nor the FBI did a thing into looking into my case.
Now I will have to hire a private firm to sue DISD on my own since my government will not protect little companies like mine.
And you wonder why there is no justice in America.
The Dallas Morning News would not even touch my story, so go figure that one out. Only in America do I pay taxes to get hammered. Now you guys act like this is some new big story. Shame on you.
Dean Baines
Sciebervision.net
[Ed Note: I've never thought it was the Attorney General's role (or the FBI's for that matter) to "protect" businesses from anything. I've always thought of their role as more "after the fact." I've always thought the FBI, and the Attorney General, are there to investigate violations of the law. Obviously, they're doing that now--and I would expect prosecutions to continue.
That being said, I realize it doesn't do anything for your lost business--but you have the right approach: get a lawyer and go after 'em! If you turn up something in discovery or depositions, as journalists, we'd like to know about it (as I'm sure Federal, State and Local agencies would).
I also hope you understand (and I hope I speak for every journalist), it's not any journalist's desire to see the "little guy" get unduly hammered. We're always interested in stories and, while we may not get involved to the level we all wish we could, please don't make the mistake of thinking we wish anyone in your position ill-will.
I hope you'll keep us abreast of things as they unfold.]
Not Over Yet
Don't give up yet. Things are still happening. There are still more fish to fry!
[Ed Note: Yes, we sometimes edit things (including references to large rotund women singing), for political correctness from time to time!]
Media interest
Okay, firstly, do NOT confuse the Dallas Morning News as ALL media.
Call CNN, specifically, Lou Dobbs. Believe it or not, he reads the emails sent to him, and he LOVES to nail government entities for misuse of government funds and trust.
Seriously, go national. THAT gets the local media's attention.
Typical for DISD
As a former DISD student (well over 25 years ago), I have to say that I find this all to be very sad and very typical for DISD.
Our school principal told us that we were not allowed to take field trips because the school did not have a vehicle that could be used to transport us.
We were working on a very specialized project for an advanced science class (AP Chemistry) and wanted to consult the library at UTSW Medical School.
Our school was surrounded by businesses that sold cars.
A group of us went to several of these places and asked them if they would be willing to donate the use of van for a few weeks to our school.
We were told politely that they would see what they could do for us.
Approximately, two weeks later, a brand new van was donated to the school.
We were supposed to be able to use it but before we could use it, it was taken by district officials and never seen again - at least not in the same condition.
Some time later, we encountered the gentleman who had donated the van and he asked us how it was working out for us.
We explained that it had been taken by the district and we hadn't actually gotten to use it at all.
He got rather upset and said that he'd see if he could get it back for us.
Nearly three months later the van reappeared, completely trashed.
The condition of it was so bad that we weren't even sure it was the same van.
The gentleman that donated it had to check the VIN number.
The passenger seating, lighting, carpeting, several of the controls, as well as the heat and air conditioning had been removed.
I've seen cesspools that were cleaner than the interior. I know that I've definitely encountered some that smelled better.
Thick black smelly grease was every where, including the ceiling.
It was so thick on the floor that we thought at first that they had put down a rubber mat.
Wires stuck out from under the dash board where many of the systems had been crudely ripped out.
The wheels and tires had been removed and replaced with bent rims and worn out tires.
One mirror was missing.
The new drivers seat had been removed and replaced with one that had been slashed with a knife.
Our principal was really angry because he said that it would cost more to fix the van than it would if he had just bought one from the school budget in the first place.
The man that gave it was very upset because it looked like the vehicle had been stripped for parts and then used as a maintenance vehicle.
We heard later from one of our teachers who had a spouse at the administration building that one of the district administrators had a van that was the same model.
Our teacher made it a point to tell us this because I think that's where the parts went.
Nail Em!
Call the FBI. Tell them what you know. Have your mom or another adult confirm it. Nail them to the wall.