Judge sentences siblings convicted of defrauding Pa. school.

Judge sentences siblings convicted of defrauding Pa. school. PHILADELPHIA -- A federal judge has sentenced the first twodefendants convicted of fraud and conspiracy involving a CommunityCollege of Philadelphia About CCP'''Community College of Philadelphia is a community college in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The main campus is located at 1700 Spring Garden Street.Community College of Philadelphia is an open-admission, Associate degree granting institution with more than 70 adult-education program. Lakiha Spicer and her brother, Azheem Spicer, were each ordered tospend six months in home detention and four years on probation, saidAssistant U.S. Attorney Frank Labor III. The prosecution unsuccessfully sought prison terms for theirparticipation in a scheme that authorities say defrauded the collegethrough systematic payments to no-show employees. Prosecutors arguedthat probation would be merely a "slap on the wrist." As part of the sentences, U.S. District Judge John Fullam St.ordered Lakiha Spicer to pay $25,000 and Azheem Spicer to pay $15,000 inrestitution. The prosecution contends Lakiha Spicer collected about$71,000 through the scam and her brother claimed about $39,000. The charges arose from an FBI investigation, leading to anindictment charging the Spicers and others with defrauding the programof at least $224,000 in salaries and $21,600 in rent between the fall of1999 and December 2001. As part of the scam, the defendants alsooverstated o��ver��state?tr.v. o��ver��stat��ed, o��ver��stat��ing, o��ver��statesTo state in exaggerated terms. See Synonyms at exaggerate.o the number of courses supposedly taught and the number ofstudents enrolled in them. The Internal Revenue Service and the U.S. Department of Educationinspector general also were involved in the probe, as were localagencies. The money came from the Education Department through the state tothe college, Labor said. The college has agreed to reimburse the federalgovernment for about $800,000. In a pre-sentencing decision, Fullam rejected a motion to overturnthe verdict and throw out the convictions. The defendants argued unsuccessfully that they hadn't intendedto defraud the. program." but Were merely what Fullam characterizedas "willing recipients of largesse lar��gessalso lar��gesse ?n.1. a. Liberality in bestowing gifts, especially in a lofty or condescending manner.b. Money or gifts bestowed.2. Generosity of spirit or attitude. as the result of a sloppily runprogram." They contended that loose bookkeeping was involved, notfraud. "The jury has resolved that issue, and there is adequateevidentiary support for the verdict," he said. Eugene Weaver IIIand the Spicers had been hired as teachers and "receivedsubstantial payments from the community college," but "it isvery clear that they were not actually teaching classes at the timeswhen, according to according toprep.1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians.2. In keeping with: according to instructions.3. official schedules, these classes were supposed to bein progress." For example, Eugene Weaver lived in Peru for nine months when hewas getting paid, and was in California or attending law school classesat other times when he was purportedly teaching classes for the program.Lakiha Spicer had an apartment and a public relations public relations,activities and policies used to create public interest in a person, idea, product, institution, or business establishment. By its nature, public relations is devoted to serving particular interests by presenting them to the public in the most job in New, Yorkwhen she was supposedly teaching in Philadelphia, the decision says. The jury also convicted the Spicers' mother, Faridah Ali inthe case. Ali was director of the Sister Clara Muhammad Clara Muhammad (November 2, 1899–August 1972), also known as Clara Poole, was born Clara Evans in Macon, Georgia. She was the wife of Nation of Islam (NOI) leader Elijah Muhammad. They married in Georgia in 1917, before he changed his name from Elijah Poole. School inPhiladelphia. Eugene Weaver's mother, Dolores Weaver, oversaw theprogram as the college's director of adult basic education. Ali andEugene Weaver are awaiting sentencing. Dolores Weaver's trial has been delayed until theprosecution's appeal on an evidentiary issue is resolved. She nolonger works at the college, according to its public relations manager,Kimberly Iapalucci. Labor said he couldn't comment on whether the grand juryinvestigation remains open and whether other indictments are possible.