Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- A former Davis School District employee who pleaded guilty last month in a textbook-buying scheme has been ordered to pay a $500 fine and forfeit cash and property.
John D. Ross, 67, of Layton, pleaded guilty in September in U.S. District Court to a misdemeanor count of aiding and abetting fraudulent copyright notice. He was sentenced Wednesday but was not given prison time or probation.
Ross admitted helping his wife, Susan G. Ross, reproduce and distribute articles that falsely indicated she was the original author.
Susan Ross, 65, pleaded guilty last month to a felony count of money laundering. Sentencing in her case is set for Dec. 14.
Prosecutors have recommended that Susan Ross be given a 27-month prison term.
The Rosses' plea bargains call for them to forfeit at least $786,000 in cash; homes in Layton, South Weber and Mountain Green; and two vehicles.
A 2006 indictment alleged the Rosses sold photocopies of books to schools that receive federal money to help disadvantaged students at inflated prices through an intermediary company that kept a small percentage of the profit and paid the rest to a company owned by the Rosses.
In one instance, according to the indictment, the district paid $93 for each copy of a book that was selling at stores for $13.22.
Between 2000 and 2005, the Rosses allegedly netted $4.3 million from the scheme. Both are former Davis School District employees. Davis district auditors became suspicious in spring 2005 and alerted authorities.
John Ross said he and his wife have been unfairly labeled as stealing from disadvantaged students.
------
Information from: The Salt Lake Tribune
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
