DETROIT (AP) — The only Detroit school principal to turn down a plea deal in a wide corruption probe has been sentenced to two years in prison.
Josette Buendia went to trial in December and was convicted of taking $45,000 from a contractor in exchange for supplies at Bennett Elementary School. She returned to court last Thursday for her sentence.
Buendia’s lawyer says she spent the money on her students at Bennett Elementary, not on herself.
Buendia was one of 12 principals charged with accepting money and other gifts from Norman Shy. The government says bogus invoices were submitted for paper and other supplies, causing the Detroit district to pay for materials that weren’t delivered.
Shy was sentenced to five years in prison. The scheme cost the Detroit district nearly $3 million.
- Posted June 07, 2017
- Tweet This | Share on Facebook
Only principal to reject deal gets two years in prison

headlines Macomb
- Macomb County Meals on Wheels in urgent need of volunteers ahead of holiday season
- MDHHS hosting three, free virtual baby showers in November and December for new or expecting families
- MDHHS secures nearly 100 new juvenile justice placements through partnerships with local communities and providers
- MDHHS seeking proposals for student internship stipend program to enhance behavioral health workforce
- ABA webinar November 30 to explore the state of civil legal aid in America
headlines National
- This Is the Moment
- ACLU and BigLaw firm use ‘Orange is the New Black’ in hashtag effort to promote NY jail reform
- BigLaw partner won’t charge his $3,250 hourly rate to defend New Jersey cities in Trump administration suits
- After second federal judge withdraws error-riddled ruling, litigants seek explanation
- 5 hallucinated cases lead federal judge to kick 3 Butler Snow lawyers off case
- Bondi files ethics complaint against federal judge who reportedly expressed concern about ‘constitutional crisis’