The former superintendent of the Dallas County Schools bus agency has been charged for his role in taking more than $3 million in bribes and kickback payments.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced Monday afternoon that Rick Sorrells, 62, intends to plead guilty to wire fraud – that’s according to signed plea papers.
The attorney’s office alleges the president of a school-bus camera technology company paid Sorrells more than $3 million from 2011 through 2017 to help secure contracts to purchase school-bus-camera equipment; those contracts were worth more than $70 million.
Attorneys allege Sorrells took payments through various pass-through companies created and operated by a business associate and a law firm. Sorrells created fake consulting agreements, invoices and loan documents as well as a fake real estate business to hide the illegal purpose of the payments, according to the attorney's office.
The FBI uncovered papers showing Sorrells and other players agreed to a narrative ensuring they had their stories straight. The company Sorrells helped was not identified by prosecutors.
There's been no response yet from Sorrells, who stepped down from Dallas County Schools last spring.
Voters decided last fall to abolish the bus agency. Sorrells faces up to 20 years in prison and a quarter million dollar fine.
Read the indictment
Rick Sorrells Indictment by KERANews on Scribd
