Ex-Obama adviser Seth Andrew sentenced to year in prison for charter school theft

Former Obama administration schooling adviser Seth Andrew was sentenced to a yr in jail for stealing greater than $218,000 from a constitution faculty community.
Matthew McDermott

A former Obama administration schooling adviser who ripped off greater than $218,000 from a constitution faculty community he as soon as led was sentenced to at least one yr and someday in federal jail Thursday for the theft. 

Seth Andrew siphoned the cash from Democracy Prep Public Colleges in a collection of 2019 financial institution transactions he was capable of pull off due to the place he held years prior as head of the non-profit, federal prosecutors stated.

The disgraced schooling whiz – who labored for 2 years as a senior White Home adviser – embezzled the money primarily to spite the community as a result of they refused to rehire him as a high govt, the feds charged. 

“Andrew’s motivation was primarily punitive, and his actions had been calculated, and occurred over a interval of many months,” Assistant US Lawyer Ryan Finkel wrote in a memo filed final week.  

Andrew used the cash, partially, to acquire a decrease rate of interest for a multi-million greenback Manhattan house he and his spouse purchased in August 2019, federal authorities stated. 

The $2.3 million house featured three bedrooms and sweeping views of Central Park, prosecutors stated. 

Along with the yr in jail, Andrew should pay a $5,000 high quality. 

“We're grateful this unhappy chapter is lastly closed and thank the US Lawyer and FBI for his or her arduous work on the case,” a spokesperson for Democracy Prep stated in an announcement. 

Damian Williams, the US Lawyer for the Southern District of New York, applauded the sentence in an announcement. 

“Fortunately, the sufferer of Andrew’s crime was resilient, and its necessary work continues.  Immediately’s sentence sends a message that those that have interaction in fraud schemes and steal from others will face acceptable penalties for his or her conduct,” he stated. 

An legal professional for Andrew didn't instantly reply.