Kenyetta Wilbourn-Snapp
Kenyetta Wilbourn Snapp, 40, a former principal at Denby and Mumford high schools in Detroit, and an after-school tutoring vendor, Glynis Thornton, pleaded guilty Thursday in federal court to a kickback scheme.
Federal authorities charged that Snapp, once a rising star in the district, selected Thornton’s company, Making a Difference Everyday (M.A.D.E.), as the tutoring vendor for Denby High School and then Mumford High School in exchange for about $58,000 in kickbacks.
Thornton admitted disguising payments to Snapp by having checks issued to a M.A.D.E. employee’s company. The employee deposited the money in an account, then withdrew it and gave the money to Snapp.
Snapp also admitted failing to report the kickbacks as 2012 income.
Her plea agreement calls for a sentence of 37-46 months. Thornton's plea calls for 24-30 months.
"Public corruption crimes are always disappointing, but it is even more heartbreaking when a school principal takes bribes," U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade said in a statement. "Squandering school funds in exchange for bribes is especially disturbing in this case because Detroit's school children already face so many financial challenges."
David P. Gelios, head of the Detroit FBI, also issued a statement:
"Ms. Snapp and Ms. Thornton's efforts to divert funds from the struggling Detroit Public School District and students trying to better themselves is particularly disturbing."
