Charter School Mogul Charged in Multimillion Fraud Case

Dorothy June Hairston Brown—a former principal in the Philadelphia School District and the founder of three local charter schools—has been charged in a multimillion dollar wire fraud case. Brown has been indicted on numerous charges—including multiple counts of wire fraud, obstruction of justice and witness tampering.

Today’s announcement comes four years after federal authorities began examining Brown’s operations in connection with a probe of another charter leader: Brien Gardiner, the founder and a former top administrator of Philadelphia Academy Charter School in the Northeast.

Brown and Gardiner cofounded Agora and were partners in an educational management firm, Cynwyd Group L.L.C..

Gardiner committed suicide in 2009, before federal charges were filed. The Academy’s CO and board president pleaded guilty to fraud and were sentenced to federal prison. [Inquirer]