A former Tennessee school district technology director is facing an indictment on alleged bid rigging to benefit a now-shuttered business owned by Murray businessman Chuck Jones.
The charges allege the technology director received lavish gifts like a $7,000 Rolex watch and St. Louis Cardinals tickets.
Former Crockett County Schools Director of Technology Ashley Jordan admitted to investigators with the Tennessee Comptroller's Office he received kickbacks, forged a signature and falsified bids and invoices to steer school business towards his former employer, Integrated Computer Solutions, Inc of Murray.
These kickbacks included high-end cookware, Waterford crystal, a $7,000 Rolex watch, Vera Bradley bags, a Garmin GPS system, flat screen televisions, an air conditioning unit for a bus, St. Louis Cardinals baseball tickets and jewelry. Jordan valued these goods between $35,000 and $40,000.
Read the TN Comptroller's Investigative Report Below
The now-shuttered Integrated Computer Solutions, Inc. filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2012 and was one of several businesses owned by Jones.
Jones has been the center of several lawsuits in recent years involving alleged copyright infringement and breaching loan agreements.
Tennessee Comptroller Spokesman John Dunn says they are not formally investigating Jordan’s former employer but have referred the findings to the U.S. District Court in Tennessee’s 28th District and the FBI Field Office in Louisville.
The investigation also revealed that Jordan stole at least $5,923 by falsifying an invoice from ICS. Mr. Jordan also misappropriated $5,451 by keeping seven school computers and other supplies at his home.
Jordan admitted to investigators that he received kickbacks, falsified bids and invoices, used school equipment and supplies to perform work on his personal business during school hours, and stole from the Crockett County School Department. This resulted in questioned costs totaling $1,089,820 from E-Rate funding, and other computer technology purchases made by the school department totaling $372,455.
