Feds: Fake tutor defrauded Philly schools of nearly $100k

A woman who allegedly concocted an elaborate scheme to bilk the Philadelphia School District of over $90,000 has been hit with federal fraud charges, U.S. officials said Monday.

For almost two years, Patricia Cleary claimed to be tutoring a relative with special needs, a Philadelphia School District student, said the FBI, U.S. Attorney Louis D. Lappen and Amy Kurland, the Inspector General for the city and school system. The officials said Cleary used her maiden name, Patricia Goldstein, to submit a false federal tax form, using another person’s social security number and falsified teaching credentials.

Cleary, 49, faces 28 charges, including wire fraud, mail fraud, Social Security fraud, aggravated identity theft and false statements to government agents. She has plead not guilty to the charges and in a court appearance before Magistrate Judge Elizabeth T. Hay Friday was ordered released on $10,000 bail.

Neither Cleary – who previously lived in Philadelphia but whose current address is not known – nor her lawyer could be reached for comment.

Read more: http://www.philly.com/philly/education/feds-fake-tutor-defrauded-philly-schools-of-nearly-100k-20171211.html