Jurors convict former principal in fake enrollment scheme

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) – Jurors have found a former north Alabama high school principal guilty of participating in an effort to defraud the state of education funds.

Rick Carter was convicted Friday in federal court in Montgomery on conspiracy, wire fraud and identity theft charges after nearly four weeks of testimony.

Testimony showed Carter and five others kept enrolling students from private schools even after state officials said to stop in 2016. Prosecutors said they were planning to use up to $10 million in extra state aid, which is based on enrollment, to help fund construction projects including a new Athens High School.

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3/20/2022 6:22:40 PM (GMT -5:00)