Former TPS Admin Sentenced To Federal Prison For Wire Fraud, Ordered To Pay $593K In Restitution

A former administrator from Tulsa Public Schools was sentenced on Monday for stealing from the district by creating fraudulent invoices and purchase orders. 

Devin Fletcher pleaded guilty last fall to causing a loss of over $600,000 to the district and its nonprofit foundation. As a result, he was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in federal prison, ordered to pay $593,000 in restitution, and will serve three years of supervised release after his imprisonment.

“Fletcher’s embezzlement was methodical and a complete abuse of power from a person in a position of trust,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “Simply put, there is no justification for his actions. This money could have funded several teachers' salaries, which would have directly benefited students.”

Tulsa Public Schools provided the following statement on Monday after the news.

"Tulsa Public Schools appreciates the continued dedication of law enforcement and our justice system in protecting the students and families of our district. The sentencing of a former employee separated from the district in 2022 marks the conclusion of an investigation into this individual’s financial misdealings. Since issues were first uncovered and reported by Tulsa Public Schools, the district has cooperated fully with authorities and sought restitution for misappropriated resources, which we are gratified to know the court has ordered.

The success of our justice system and the extensive additional financial controls put in place by the district together serve to safeguard Tulsa Public Schools resources, ensuring they benefit students and families in the ways our community intends."

Oklahoma's Own In Focus: Detailing Tulsa Public Schools' Wire Fraud Case Involving A Former Administrator

Prosecutors stated that starting in 2018, Fletcher enlisted the services of a family member's business for consulting purposes, but no actual services were rendered. This continued until 2022, when TPS began to notice warning signs and launched an investigation which eventually included the FBI.

“The defendant betrayed the trust of the citizens of Tulsa and intentionally stole funds meant for the betterment of students,” said FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge Doug Goodwater. “The sentence imposed today holds him accountable for his actions and sends a message that abuse of power for personal gain is not acceptable to the American people.”

Documents reveal that he defrauded the school district and the nonprofit Foundation of over $600,000 by inflating invoices and contracting with a fictitious consulting firm. Court documents indicate that bonus payments were made to employees through a vendor called Snickelbox, which alerted the district to potential issues.

Accounting records from Snickelbox, obtained during the district's insurance claims process, revealed that those payments to employees amounted to $17,000.