Former MA coach indicted in federal fraud charges
Six former Alabama educators – including Webb Tutt of Marengo County – face dozens of federal charges concerning enrollment practices at virtual schools.
The 127-count indictment includes charges of conspiracy, identity theft and fraud. Prosecutors claim nearly $7 million in state funds were improperly allocated to Athens and Limestone schools because of the scheme.
Tutt, a former football coach at Marengo Academy in Linden, and retired educator Gregory Earl Corkren of Tuscaloosa face multiple charges of being instrumental in connecting Black Belt private school headmasters to the scheme.
Federal investigators Tuesday said three former north Alabama educators conspired to inflate enrollment data at virtual schools in their districts. The alleged conspiracy resulted in larger reimbursements from state education funds than their districts were supposed to receive. The three then skimmed some of the funds for their own use.
The accused are former Athens City Schools Supt. Trey Holladay, former Limestone County Supt. Tom Sisk and Deborah Irby Holladay, retired Athens teacher and Trey Holladay’s wife.
Former Athens High principal William Richard Carter Jr., who oversaw virtual learning programs, was also charged.
Holladay is alleged to have contracted with Tutt and Corkren, his longtime friends, who managed limited liability companies. Holladay is accused of funneling money through the companies, including making direct payments to private school employees and to an LLC operated by Deborah Holladay.
Prosecutors said the north Alabama trio inflated virtual school enrollment numbers with student data drawn from private schools in the Black Belt. The administrators claimed the students were receiving virtual instruction, but they remained enrolled in their home schools and districts.
According to prosecutors, private school students who were technically enrolled in the north Alabama virtual schools did not know their data had been turned over. No private school administrators have been charged.
The private schools involved were Marengo Academy in Linden, Jackson Academy in Jackson, Pickens Academy in Carrollton, Lakeside School in Eufaula, Southern Academy in Greensboro, Monroe Academy in Monroeville, Meadowview Christian School in Selma, Abbeville Christian Academy, Marion Academy and Camden Christian Academy.
Tutt retired as head coach after leading the 2016 MA Longhorns to the AISA Class 1A State Championship. He at one time served as a volunteer assistant coach at Demopolis High School under Tom Causey.