Local News

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) ― Felony charges have been filed against a Minneapolis charter school administrator accused of embezzling over $1.3 million from the school's funds.

According to the Hennepin County Attorney's Office, Joel Pourier fraudulently transferred funds from the Oh Day Aki Charter School.

Pourier had been put in charge of the school's finances as its executive director by the board of directors, who considered him qualified because of his MBA from Chadron State College in Nebraska -- a degree he fabricated, as he has never attended the school.

Between August 2003 and July 2008, according to the charges, Pourier surreptitiously transferred money over to six accounts controlled by himself, his wife or LLCs connected to him.

He used automated cleaning house transfers to conceal his identity as the recipient, and would write plausible explanations for school expenses in memo lines, such as "speech and therapy," "Houghton and Mifflen" and "reimbursement for loan."

The charges also state Pourier made some transfers appear to pay off a contract his cleaning company had with the school, though employees said they never saw him or any of his employees cleaning the school.

"He falsified his education, he falsified what tribe he was part of, he falsified running a cleaning agency, he just falsified everything," said Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman.

Instead, according to the charges, Pourier cleaned approximately $1,380,000 from Oh Day Aki's account in just under five years, while the school's children were denied field trips, computers, supplies and textbooks due to lack of funds.

Pourier's explanation for the "lavish lifestyle" he and his wife enjoyed during the time, according to the charges, was that the two were members of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux community and were receiving casino profits.

"He owned Cadillacs, a half million dollar home. He installed a swimming pool and spent thousands of dollars at strip clubs in Minneapolis," said Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek.

Neighbors who once lived by Pourier in Prior Lake say he flaunted his wealth. Prosecutors say the school executive explained the money came tribal gaming profits but he's not a tribe member.

When the initial accusations surfaced last year, WCCO spoke with Pourier.

"No, I did not take (money) for my personal use. I paid for certain things through the school which at times I always got reimbursed for it," he said at the time.

A charter school support services company assumed accounting duties for the school in October 2007, but ceased operations in less than a year owing to missing invoices and lack of expense documentation.

"I was so mad I couldn't even think straight for a long time," said former school board member Johnny Smith. "He's a liar, he's a cheat."

Oh Day Aki board members can't understand how someone they trusted to manage the school's finances could steal from more than 200 under privileged Native American students.

"He did destroy something that was good for our people in our community," said Smith.

An Oh Day Aki employee tipped authorities off in July 2008. Investigators eventually uncovered 124 fraudulent transfers made by Pourier.

Unfortunately, the school closed last summer as a direct result of Pourier's actions, according to the charges.

Pourier has been charged with six felony counts of embezzlement. Each carries with it the possible penalty of 20 years in prison and $100,000 in fines. He is currently in jail on $25,000 bail.

Pourier's attorney said his client is not guilty and he'll prove it in court. As for why it took so long to detect the alleged embezzlement, board members say Pourier cooked the books to make the figures add up.


 

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