Attorney General Wins $539,000 Judgment against Couple for Fraudulently Enrolling Children in DCPS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does not make sense is why anyone would go to such lengths to send their kids to DC public schools when they have the option of either Maryland or Virginia schools.

Tripling the amount is excessive though. It should be the amount of "tuition" plus a fine per kid.

The parents are police officers and the kids attended Eaton, Deal, and Wilson which were all convenient to their work places.

Aren't those schools just middling to average when you compare them to Arlington, fcps & montgomery county schools?

I get what they did was illegal, but if it was truly about cops/commute, wouldn't it make sense for DC to have a program for law enforcement/fire department to be able to place theirkids in schools close to their precincts, perhaps for a small "tuition" fee? DC really needs good cops and fire/rescue workers. Their kids are likely the tyoe of students who would be assets to this failing school system, as would having law enforcement officers who were personally invested in the local schools being safe and effective due to their own kids attending the schools.

I still thik tripling the fine is ridiculous given the victimless nature of the crime.

Please STOP with the excuses for these cheaters! They are bilking DC taxpayers. End of story.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does not make sense is why anyone would go to such lengths to send their kids to DC public schools when they have the option of either Maryland or Virginia schools.

Tripling the amount is excessive though. It should be the amount of "tuition" plus a fine per kid.

The parents are police officers and the kids attended Eaton, Deal, and Wilson which were all convenient to their work places.

Aren't those schools just middling to average when you compare them to Arlington, fcps & montgomery county schools?

I get what they did was illegal, but if it was truly about cops/commute, wouldn't it make sense for DC to have a program for law enforcement/fire department to be able to place theirkids in schools close to their precincts, perhaps for a small "tuition" fee? DC really needs good cops and fire/rescue workers. Their kids are likely the tyoe of students who would be assets to this failing school system, as would having law enforcement officers who were personally invested in the local schools being safe and effective due to their own kids attending the schools.

I still thik tripling the fine is ridiculous given the victimless nature of the crime.

Huh? The kids went to Wilson and Deal. They took a spot that a needy DC kid could have used instead of going to a lower performing school. Also, that tuition was paid by DC taxpayers. That may be a diffuse effect, but not victimless. Kinda like saying that lady who stole millions from the revenue office committed a victimless crime because each taxpayer only lost a little bit.

[Anonymous]

for those concerned about the severity of the penalty rest assured they'll be able to claim bankruptcy and pay pennies on the dollar of assessed fines. Their MPD pensions will be untouched and they'll recover in a few years. The severity of the penalty is mostly a warning message to others doing the same thing with seeming impunity.

[Anonymous]

Deal outscores many of the surrounding suburban area middle schools.

Glad they went after them. Now to go after more.

[Anonymous]

The ruling should give OSSE further empowerment to go after other residency cheaters. I don't understand why some posters feel triple the amount is excessive -- it is within the law and for all those years other DC students could have filled those seats.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does not make sense is why anyone would go to such lengths to send their kids to DC public schools when they have the option of either Maryland or Virginia schools.

Tripling the amount is excessive though. It should be the amount of "tuition" plus a fine per kid.

The parents are police officers and the kids attended Eaton, Deal, and Wilson which were all convenient to their work places.

Aren't those schools just middling to average when you compare them to Arlington, fcps & montgomery county schools?

I get what they did was illegal, but if it was truly about cops/commute, wouldn't it make sense for DC to have a program for law enforcement/fire department to be able to place theirkids in schools close to their precincts, perhaps for a small "tuition" fee? DC really needs good cops and fire/rescue workers. Their kids are likely the tyoe of students who would be assets to this failing school system, as would having law enforcement officers who were personally invested in the local schools being safe and effective due to their own kids attending the schools.

I still thik tripling the fine is ridiculous given the victimless nature of the crime.

Huh? The kids went to Wilson and Deal. They took a spot that a needy DC kid could have used instead of going to a lower performing school. Also, that tuition was paid by DC taxpayers. That may be a diffuse effect, but not victimless. Kinda like saying that lady who stole millions from the revenue office committed a victimless crime because each taxpayer only lost a little bit.

It's only a crime because no one was physically hurt? They committed egregious fraud. The victims are the tax paying citizens of DC. That's what the AG is supposed to do - protect the legal interests of its citizenry.

[Anonymous]

So what.

they spent years just getting through one case meanwhile there are hundreds of cheaters right now and they don't even do the very basic minimum to try and stop them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What does not make sense is why anyone would go to such lengths to send their kids to DC public schools when they have the option of either Maryland or Virginia schools.

Tripling the amount is excessive though. It should be the amount of "tuition" plus a fine per kid.

free stuff

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does not make sense is why anyone would go to such lengths to send their kids to DC public schools when they have the option of either Maryland or Virginia schools.

Tripling the amount is excessive though. It should be the amount of "tuition" plus a fine per kid.

The parents are police officers and the kids attended Eaton, Deal, and Wilson which were all convenient to their work places.

Aren't those schools just middling to average when you compare them to Arlington, fcps & montgomery county schools?

I get what they did was illegal, but if it was truly about cops/commute, wouldn't it make sense for DC to have a program for law enforcement/fire department to be able to place theirkids in schools close to their precincts, perhaps for a small "tuition" fee? DC really needs good cops and fire/rescue workers. Their kids are likely the tyoe of students who would be assets to this failing school system, as would having law enforcement officers who were personally invested in the local schools being safe and effective due to their own kids attending the schools.

I still thik tripling the fine is ridiculous given the victimless nature of the crime.

This. Their lives at pretty much ruined by that fantastical sum they'll be paying off forever. Their kids' college money, their retirement, gone. I am not supporting fraud, but I know how impossible it can be for working families to juggle shifts, kids, and life. I don't really blame anyone for doing what they can--we all do.

Of course. I also think dc is a ridiculous place that makes ridiculous distinctions between itself and Maryland... And should jsut be a part of Maryland already.

And no, for the trillionth time: not a pg resident. We live in the district. Send our kids to district schools. Zoned for deal and Wilson. Never needed prek3 here. Maybe that's my problem? I have no skin in this game. I don't feel cheated, except that I have to live in such a sad, vindictive, malarial swamp ass of a city.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does not make sense is why anyone would go to such lengths to send their kids to DC public schools when they have the option of either Maryland or Virginia schools.

Tripling the amount is excessive though. It should be the amount of "tuition" plus a fine per kid.

The parents are police officers and the kids attended Eaton, Deal, and Wilson which were all convenient to their work places.

Aren't those schools just middling to average when you compare them to Arlington, fcps & montgomery county schools?

I get what they did was illegal, but if it was truly about cops/commute, wouldn't it make sense for DC to have a program for law enforcement/fire department to be able to place theirkids in schools close to their precincts, perhaps for a small "tuition" fee? DC really needs good cops and fire/rescue workers. Their kids are likely the tyoe of students who would be assets to this failing school system, as would having law enforcement officers who were personally invested in the local schools being safe and effective due to their own kids attending the schools.

I still thik tripling the fine is ridiculous given the victimless nature of the crime.

DC has several incentives like the Employer-Assisted Homebuyer Program that this couple could have used if they wanted to live in DC. And if they lived in DC they could have sent their kids to DC schools. But they wanted it both ways, and now they're paying the price.

[Anonymous]

OP here: If you know how many of the ppl that I grew up with who now live in MD and opt to send their kids to DC schools, you would be mind-boggled. Most don't even get the fact that it's illegal, they feel as though it's an inconvenience simply solved by using someone else's address. This fraud transcends all programs food stamps, daycare vouchers, DC TAG, school enrollment, and even the DC ONE cards with the rail and bus subsidy. I was in the office last years registering my 8yo for a DC One card and saw a stack of at least 200 cards with yellow labels on the envelope. I curiously asked the worker and he said that those were returned by the PO because ppl either moved or the address didn't exist.

[Anonymous]

Great news!

Sadly, this behavior (by the parents) is rampant. I just can't see how or why so many parents are okay with teaching their children to be dishonest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here: If you know how many of the ppl that I grew up with who now live in MD and opt to send their kids to DC schools, you would be mind-boggled. Most don't even get the fact that it's illegal, they feel as though it's an inconvenience simply solved by using someone else's address. This fraud transcends all programs food stamps, daycare vouchers, DC TAG, school enrollment, and even the DC ONE cards with the rail and bus subsidy. I was in the office last years registering my 8yo for a DC One card and saw a stack of at least 200 cards with yellow labels on the envelope. I curiously asked the worker and he said that those were returned by the PO because ppl either moved or the address didn't exist.

The notion of the 'ancestral' home which entitles one to adopt whatever residence is most convenient is strong and pervasive. It's a truly foreign concept to newer residents to DC but it's real.

[Anonymous]

But ... but ... BLUE LIVES MATTER

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does not make sense is why anyone would go to such lengths to send their kids to DC public schools when they have the option of either Maryland or Virginia schools.

Tripling the amount is excessive though. It should be the amount of "tuition" plus a fine per kid.

The parents are police officers and the kids attended Eaton, Deal, and Wilson which were all convenient to their work places.

Aren't those schools just middling to average when you compare them to Arlington, fcps & montgomery county schools?

I get what they did was illegal, but if it was truly about cops/commute, wouldn't it make sense for DC to have a program for law enforcement/fire department to be able to place theirkids in schools close to their precincts, perhaps for a small "tuition" fee? DC really needs good cops and fire/rescue workers. Their kids are likely the tyoe of students who would be assets to this failing school system, as would having law enforcement officers who were personally invested in the local schools being safe and effective due to their own kids attending the schools.

I still thik tripling the fine is ridiculous given the victimless nature of the crime.

This. Their lives at pretty much ruined by that fantastical sum they'll be paying off forever. Their kids' college money, their retirement, gone. I am not supporting fraud, but I know how impossible it can be for working families to juggle shifts, kids, and life. I don't really blame anyone for doing what they can--we all do.

Of course. I also think dc is a ridiculous place that makes ridiculous distinctions between itself and Maryland... And should jsut be a part of Maryland already.

And no, for the trillionth time: not a pg resident. We live in the district. Send our kids to district schools. Zoned for deal and Wilson. Never needed prek3 here. Maybe that's my problem? I have no skin in this game. I don't feel cheated, except that I have to live in such a sad, vindictive, malarial swamp ass of a city.

Here's a solution: Move!

I truly pity people who don't/can't live where they want to live. How miserable...