Source on Roosevelt Scandal: Feds Don’t Like the ‘Teaching Kids to Do Wire Fraud’ Thing

One former U.S. Attorney thinks coaching up kids to lie for fraudulent McKinney Vento Act .benefits is “very problematic”. So is the cover up. Here are some potential charges.

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SEATTLE - The consequences radiating out from this growing scandal have been significant, with Principal Brewer and Coaches Adams and Patu removed from their positions, and fines and probation levied on the district.

Significant for athletic violations.

But not significant like “Oh shit that’s the U.S. ADA’s music!”.

When the Feds get up on you, it’s gonna be a rough 5 years. And then prison. So let’s hope for Roosevelt’s sake that they have something better to do.

Because after speaking with a former federal prosecutor and a current paralegal familiar with federal case-making, there is more than enough here to cause huge problems at Seattle Schools.

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The folks we spoke with zeroed in on two major concerns. First, fraudulent McKinney Vento Act registrations. It’s just very offensive to pretty much anyone with a pulse that the first thing Roosevelt did with their totally legal and appropriate new transfers is MAKE THEM LIE IN AN ATTEMPT TO FRAUDULENTLY OBTAIN HOMELESS STATUS. Really? You’re gonna take some one else’s son and teach them wire fraud off rip? What is wrong down there?

Second, if making the kids lie was bad, then the adults lying to cover up the first lie makes everyone madder. Just go back and read J425’s October 3 story (substantiated). Then read Brewer’s October 4 all staff email. (Pack of lies.) I mean. Didn’t they realize that this scam has an end date?

And even if you win the 3A title (HURRAY!) you’re just gonna get it stripped in like 30 minutes and everyone is still going to find out that the coach wasn’t properly contracted and that it was very strange that all 18 of the midyear star transfer football players (who definitely were not recruited and definitely live with their full family in district ) well it’s very strange if they’re all listed as homeless. That info is gonna come out. So what was the scheme here?

Anyway. That’s the major issues in the minds of our sources. Sure there are lots of ways to charge those two concepts: False Claims Act, Fraud, Wire Fraud, Conspiracy definitely fits. But it’s the lies that get you.

And yeah it seemed like they were less interested in the Kennel payments. Or maybe they were just mad that kids had to do wire fraud just so they could sit in a kennel and go 8-4. Adults you gotta do better. See below for a serious discussion of Federal criminal exposure.

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The WIAA's comprehensive report provides a thorough inquiry into these issues, largely substantiating the claims made by The Journal 425.

However, given the "misappropriation of Federal law" through false McKinney-Vento applications, questions remain as to whether this deeply concerning situation might warrant further inquiry, perhaps even from a U.S. Attorney, regarding potential fraudulent use of federal funds. More on McKinney Vento criminal exposure in the next installment - KTH.

The $80,000 payment to "The Kennel" program raises several concerns, primarily related to its use as an inducement for athletes and its connection to a broader pattern of alleged misconduct.

Here's a breakdown of the concerns:

**Source and Purpose of Funding:** The Roosevelt Foundation provided an $80,000 grant for "The Kennel" program for the 2023-2024 school year [1]. This funding was explicitly "to support student athletes who were football players" [1]. Although the written description for the 2024-2025 school year changed to "tutoring to Roosevelt students," the Foundation confirmed its initial purpose was for football players [1].

**Violation of WIAA Rules as an Inducement:** The fact-finder concluded that "The Kennel" program was "a privilege not offered to other students during the 2023-2024 school year". The opportunity to participate in "The Kennel" was "offered to the parent... as an incentive" for student attendance at Roosevelt. This directly violates WIAA rules, which prohibit "any privilege not afforded to non-athletes" as a special inducement . Therefore, the use of these funds to operate a program that served as an illegal inducement is a clear violation of athletic association rules.

**Potential for Broader Legal Inquiry (Federal Level):** While the $80,000 payment itself did not come from federal funds (it came from the Roosevelt Foundation, The Journal 425 raises the possibility of federal legal concerns due to the overall scheme uncovered. J425 surmises it's "not far fetched to think that some U.S. Attorneys might see [the situation] as a highly prosecutable case". This is linked to the "misappropriation of Federal law and possibly Federal funds through fraudulent applications" , particularly concerning the alleged misuse of McKinney-Vento homeless student provisions . The exclusive "Kennel" club (funded by the $80,000 payment) is cited as one of the benefits or inducements offered to recruited athletes within this larger context of alleged fraud.

**Nature of the Operating Entity:**