Minneapolis charter school director allegedly embezzled $1.38 million

"The bottom line is, charter school law was not followed

and oversight was not provided."

-- Principal Darlene Leiding

His elaborate scam

bought him a lavish lifestyle

and closed the school, charges say.

This from the Star Tribune:

People knew a lot of money was missing from a Minneapolis charter school. But even its principal was stunned by how much.

The former executive director of the Oh Day Aki/Heart of the Earth
school, Joel Pourier, appeared in court Monday on charges of embezzling $1.38 million from the school for American Indian children and spending it on houses, cars and nights at strip clubs.

"This is just about as bad as it gets," Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek said at a news conference Monday...

The criminal complaint details an elaborate hoax: From 2003 to 2008, Pourier allegedly forged school officials' signatures on dozens of checks and transferred money to at least six bank accounts under his control...

Hat Tip to the Detention Slip.