Floyd County Police Chief Bill Shiflett stated on Thursday, more than $3,000,000 was stolen from the Floyd County School system.

Last April Derry Richardson, a resident of Chattooga County, then the school’s maintenance director, was accused of taking over $600,000 by using fraudulent purchase orders. A RICO filing named Richardson and 17 others, including several family members, in that case.

Shiflett said that police have worked over 6,000 hours in that investigation, but no criminal charges have yet been filed. He said that he expects to see (quote) "numerous arrests soon" – he added that between 12 and 14 arrests could be made in the case.

A civil case stated that Richardson, and others, inflated invoices since 2007, and Richardson would receive cash and merchandise as a result; those filings indicated that Richardson had received items such as Viking kitchen appliances and chandeliers.

The GBI was reportedly called in to audit all the bids that had been submitted by the school system over the past five years.

In a hearing last November – Richardson agreed to forfeit his Summerville home – which the family was still living in, at that time. The proceeds from the sale of that property and other items will then be disbursed by court appointed receivers – with all of those proceeds being returned to the Floyd County Board of Education.

(Coosa Valley News)