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Former charter school administrator sentenced for embezzling

Delaware Public Media

A former New Castle County charter school administrator is headed to jail.

44 year-old Sean Moore was sentenced to 18 months by a federal court Thursday after pleading guilty last month to stealing close to $162,000  from Family Foundations Charter between 2011 and 2015.

Family Foundations has since changed its name to Charter School of New Castle.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Delaware says Moore embezzled the money by opening an unauthorized credit card in the school’s name, buying iPads with school funds, then selling them online, and skimming from the school’s fundraising account. The U.S Attorney’s Office says Moore used the money on food, entertainment, electronics, gas, travel, shoes, jewelry, and hotels.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Moore claimed his actions were caused in part by a “severe level of sexual addiction and shopping addiction.”

“Acting out of self-interest and greed, Mr. Moore stole money intended for the children he promised to serve. That is egregious. The sentence imposed today holds him accountable for cheating children, their families, and the taxpayers,” said Acting United States Attorney for the District of Delaware David Weiss in a statement.

A 2015 state audit uncovered the misspent funds – which led the school to fire Moore and its founder and chief academic officer Tennell Brewington, who was also charged with misusing school credit cards.  The school also replaced its entire board.

Tom Byrne has been a fixture covering news in Delaware for three decades. He joined Delaware Public Media in 2010 as our first news director and has guided the news team ever since. When he's not covering the news, he can be found reading history or pursuing his love of all things athletic.
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