Ex-Madison Heights School Board President Charged with Taking $560,000 in Bribes

Albert Morrison

A past Madison District Public Schools Board of Education president is charged with allegedly taking more than $560,000 in bribes in exchange for $3.1 million in contracts. He spent some of the money on Florida vacations and a boat slip, authorities allege. 

Albert Morrison, 60, is charged with taking bribes from contractor John David, 64, who also faces charges of being part of a criminal conspiracy, the U.S. Attorney's Office announced Thursday.

The charges, detailed in a superseding indictment, are added to tax charges Morrison already faced for failing to report $500,000 in income.

Morrison was board president from 2012-18. During that time, David, the co-owner of a building maintenance and reconstruction company, Emergency Restoration, was awarded more than $3.1 million in maintenance and construction projects in the school district. 

David, a long-time friend of Morrison, wrote checks from his company to Morrison’s soley owned firm, Comfort Consulting, from 2014-18, the indictment alleges. David admitted he had to “pay to play” in the district, authorities said.

When confronted by the board and the community, Morrison denied having financial ties to David or Emergency Restoration.

“Children and their parents deserve a school system free of corruption,” U.S. Attorney Dawn N. Ison said in a statement. “Today’s indictment demonstrates our commitment to ensure that our educational systems put the interests of our kids first.”