Federal indictment reveals details in alleged EPISD cheating scheme
Five current and former El Paso Independent School District employees indicted by a federal grand jury were arrested Wednesday morning.
Federal indictments released by the Department of Justice show details of how the former and current educators were allegedly involved in the fraud scheme, lied to a grand jury and even coached a student to make a false allegation.
The indictments say it was former EPISD Associate Superintendent Damon Murphy who “gave the marching orders” to four other district employees which allegedly led to fraud and students being coerced to press charges against teachers providing truthful information to investigators.
“When it comes to people allegedly involved in corruption that involves defrauding our school children, our students and then you throw in retaliation against witnesses, people can rest assured that the El Paso FBI is going to rigorously pursue those types of cases and those types of allegations,” said Keith Byers, assistant special agent in charge.
The federal indictment says former Austin High School assistant principal Mark Tegmeyer and former principle John Tanner changed absence records of students to make it seem as if they were present on days required by the state to measure attendance rates.
Tanner briefly spoke with ABC-7’s Stephanie Valle:
“Do you have anything to say to the EPISD taxpayers?,” Valle asked. “I can’t wait till I’m able to, but I can’t right now,” replied Tanner.
Tanner’s attorney said his client has done nothing wrong.
“He has maintained his innocence from day one and continues to maintain his innocence and we’re confident at the end of the day, that’s where he will be,” said Jim Darnell, Tanner’s attorney.
The indictment also says former Austin High School assistant principals Diane Thomas and Nancy Love allegedly attempted to terminate the jobs of two teachers who were providing information to the FBI and asking one student to press charges against one of those instructors.
Love allegedly went so far as to lying to a grand jury in September, 2013, the indictment, claiming that the student came to her for advice when it came to pressing charges against the teacher.
Court documents state it was Love who approached a relative of the former student to convince her to press charges against the teacher.
“Miss Love has a great career. She’s very well liked. She’s very well respected in her job. This has been hanging over her head for a long time wondering what was going to happen in this case. It’s a difficult day for her but we’re happy to face this,” said Mary Stillinger, Love’s attorney.
