Accused Seattle schools embezzler pleads guilty to theft
Apr 8, 2013, 3:42 PM | Updated: 4:02 pm
Silas Potter, a former Seattle School District official at the center of an embezzlement scheme, has pleaded guilty to 36 counts of theft. (AP Photo/file)
(AP Photo/file)
The former Seattle School District official at the center of an embezzlement scheme has pleaded guilty to 36 counts of theft.
Silas Potter was the former director of the Seattle School District’s small business program, which was set up to help minority and women-owned businesses win more contracts.
Potter is accused of handing out $250,000 worth of contracts to companies that didn’t do much, if any work. A state audit also found that he signed off on about $1.8 million in questionable deals. In some cases, prosecutors say Potter set up dummy businesses and issued fraudulent invoices.
Potter was arrested on Saturday after failing to show up for a pre-trial hearing on April 2. A judge issued a $100,000 bench warrant for his arrest.
Prosecutors say Potter faces three to five years in prison when he’s sentenced on May 24.
KIRO Radio’s Ursula Reutin and Tim Haeck contributed to this report.
