Hearing in RICO case against former Floyd County Schools employee canceled

The Latest Local News from the Rome News

Derry Richardson, the former Floyd County schools employee facing RICO accusations, will hand over $30,000 he removed from the bank on the same day authorities seized his Summerville home, court records state.

The former maintenance director agreed Monday to hand over the lump sum in a “prompt manner.” The agreement between Richardson and attorney Brian Bojo, the receiver or custodian of Richardson’s assets, led to the cancellation of a hearing today about the money.

“That means we don’t have a hearing, because we’ve worked it out,” Bojo said.

Bojo has said similar hearings often are postponed or canceled during good-faith negotiations.

At issue was $30,000 Richardson withdrew on April 14 — the day authorities descended on his home, seizing it and the assets inside under the Georgia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act.

Richardson withdrew the money to hire an attorney.

Prosecutors have accused Richardson and unidentified others of using fraudulent purchase orders to buy personal items like chandeliers and Viking kitchen appliances. Richardson is accused of taking over $600,000 from the county school system.

The seizure fell on the heels of the departure of five senior school staff and revelation of a criminal investigation into “questionable purchasing practices.” Officials have declined to say if the investigation and staff departures are linked.

The resignations include Richardson, maintenance director; William Greg McCary, lead maintenance specialist; Terri Snelling, director of school improvement; and Robert Chad Watson, operations coordinator. The board also accepted the retirement of Sam Sprewell, chief of operations.

Previously posted: The hearing in a RICO case of a former Floyd County schools employee has been canceled.

Attorney Brian Bojo, the appointed custodian of Richardson’s assets, asked in court documents for a hearing to compel Richardson to turn over $30,000.

Bojo said an attorney for Richardson, Bobby Lee Cook, contacted him and said the money would be turned over.

Previously posted:

The receiver in the RICO case of a former Floyd County schools employee is scheduled to attend a Tuesday hearing in his attempts to recover $30,000.

Derry Richardson, the school system’s former maintenance director, is accused in court documents of withdrawing the money on April 14 — the same day authorities seized his Summerville home and the assets inside it through the Georgia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act.

Attorney Brian Bojo, the appointed custodian of Richardson’s assets, asked in court documents for a hearing to compel Richardson to turn over the money.

As of last week the hearing remained scheduled for Tuesday afternoon before Floyd County Superior Court Chief Judge Walter J. Matthews.

Prosecutors this month accused Richardson and unidentified others of using fraudulent purchase orders to buy personal items such as chandeliers and Viking kitchen appliances.

Richardson is accused of taking over $600,000.

The thefts started no later than 2007. Police said Floyd County Schools officials first contacted them in October.

School officials revealed on April 9 a criminal investigation into “questionable purchasing practices.” Hours later, the Board of Education voted unanimously to accept the retirement and resignations of five senior staff, including Richardson. They later reorganized, adding a deputy superintendent position.

Officials have declined to say if the investigation and staff departures are linked. The resignations include Richardson, maintenance director; William Greg McCary, lead maintenance specialist; Terri Snelling, director of school improvement; and Robert Chad Watson, operations coordinator. The board also accepted the retirement of Sam Sprewell, chief of operations.

Source: Rome News

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