Former administrator in Ecorse (Mich.) district sentenced to 46 months

March 26, 2009
Douglas A. Benit, 63, gets 46 months for illegally steering contracts

From The Detroit News: A man who used his management position with Ecorse (Mich.) Public Schools to steer technology contracts to companies he controlled has been sentenced to serve 46 months in prison. Douglas A. Benit, 63, of Ypsilanti also was ordered to pay $1.3 million in restitution; $853,000 of that will go to a federal school program to improve Internet access, and the rest will go to Ecorse schools. Benit was the director of facility development and assistant superintendent for Ecorse Public Schools between 1997 and 2003. He pleaded guilty last year to mail fraud and bank fraud. He admitted that he used his school position to steer contracts to Coral Technology, which Benit controlled. The company reaped about a $2.3 million profit from the scheme.

Sponsored Recommendations

Providing solutions that help creativity, collaboration, and communication.

Discover why we’re a one-stop shop for all things education. See how ODP Business Solutions can help empower your students, school, and district to succeed by supporting healthier...

Building Futures: Transforming K–12 Learning Environments for Tomorrow's Leaders

Discover how ODP Business Solutions® Workspace Interiors partnered with a pioneering school system, overcoming supply chain challenges to furnish 18 new K–12 campuses across 4...

How to design flexible learning spaces that teachers love and use

Unlock the potential of flexible learning spaces with expert guidance from school districts and educational furniture providers. Discover how to seamlessly integrate adaptive ...

Blurring the Lines in Education Design: K–12 to Higher Ed to Corporate America

Discover the seamless integration of educational and corporate design principles, shaping tomorrow's leaders from kindergarten to boardroom. Explore innovative classroom layouts...