Robert Leonard, a main player in the Dallas County Schools corruption case involving contracts for school bus illegal passing cameras, pleaded guilty on Aug. 9 to federal fraud charges, reports WTOP.com.
Leonard was the CEO of Force Multiplier Solutions that not only had a contract with Dallas County Schools, but other school districts in Texas and other states.
The plea agreement states that Leonard paid $450,000 to Dallas City Council member Larry Duncan, and $3 million to former Dallas County Schools Superintendent Rick Sorrells, in bribes and kickbacks to secure additional contracts. Dallas County Schools was shuttered this spring after voters last fall decided to end the 100-year-old government agency amid the controversy.
Leonard, Duncan, Sorrells and 11 others are also being sued by creditors of the defunct agency.
Meanwhile, the assets of Force Multiplier Solutions were purchased by new owners who created an entirely new company, Bus Patrol America. David Poirier, president of Bus Patrol America, said the new company has no connections with the previous ownership. He called Leonard’s actions “shady” and “crooked,” and said they should not reflect on the new company or its employees.
