CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — A former Chicago Public Schools principal has been arrested and accused in a fraud scheme of using school money to pay her home mortgage and other personal expenses.
Federal prosecutors say 57-year-old Sarah Jackson Abedelal was principal at Brennemann Elementary School on the North Side from 2012 to 2019. She allegedly told employees to put in for overtime that they did not work and that she would authorize it.
When the employees got paid, she told them to turn over the cash to her.
Prosecutors say Abedelal told the employees she was using the money to pay legitimate school expenses. In reality, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago said, Abedelal was using the money to pay her own expenses, like her home mortgage.
The government said Abedelal fraudulently took at least $200,000 in school money.
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