Man created phony charter schools to cheat government

A man who stole $7.2 million worth of computers from the government by creating fake charter schools has pleaded guilty in Seattle to fraud. SeattlePI.com reports that Steven A. Bolden concocted a series of fake charter schools to take advantage of a federal program meant to get surplus computer equipment to educational non-profits. The General Services Administration program – Computers for Learning – provides computers to public schools as well as private organizations. Prosecutors say Bolden, 50, began stealing computer equipment through the program in June 2007 and ultimately made off with 19,442 items.