The prosecution of a Layton man accused of helping bilk the Davis School District of millions of dollars ended Wednesday with an order that he pay a $500 fine and forfeit cash and property.
No prison time or probation was imposed on John D. Ross, 67, who pleaded guilty last month to a misdemeanor count of aiding and abetting fraudulent copyright notice. He admitted helping his wife, Susan G. Ross, reproduce and distribute articles that falsely represented that she was the original author.
Susan Ross, 65, has pleaded guilty to a felony count of money laundering in the textbook-purchasing scheme and is slated to be sentenced Dec. 14. Authorities have alleged the Rosses, both former Davis School District employees, stole $4.3 million from 2000 to 2005.
Husband and wife were indicted in 2006 on 47 charges each. The U.S. Attorney's Office pointed out in a written statement that the penalty for the copyright violation does not include prison time.
"While we believe Mr. Ross aided and abetted the criminal conduct involved in this case, the primary focus of the case has been Susan Ross," the statement said. "Cases are resolved short of trial for a variety of reasons, including the strength of evidence, relative culpability of the defendants, and the individual circumstances of the defendants charged in the case. In this case, the circumstances led us to conclude the plea agreement was appropriate."
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.
John Ross said Wednesday he thought he had permission to reproduce the articles but it was his responsibility to verify that. "I deeply regret my mistake," he said.
Ross contended he and his wife have been unfairly labeled as stealing from disadvantaged students and said they had obtained millions of dollars in grants for the Davis School District.
"I'm personally and deeply offended by the trash printed by the Salt Lake and Ogden daily papers in this case," Ross said.
Susan Ross, who was employed by the district beginning in the 1970s, was director of federal programs before she retired in spring 2005. John Ross is the former Title I specialist for the Utah Office of Education and worked as a grant specialist for the Davis district from March 2000 to February 2005.
Susan G. Ross and her husband, John D. Ross, were each accused in 2006 of 47 counts of fraud, theft, money laundering and copyright infringement. The indictment claimed they sold photocopies of books to schools that receive federal Title 1 money to help disadvantaged students at vastly inflated prices through an intermediary company, which kept a small percentage of the profit and paid the rest to a company owned by the Rosses.
