2nd suspect is indicted in theft from TPS

Toledo businessman John Briggle, 56, is indicted by a Lucas County grand jury on one count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity and six counts of tampering with records. He is charged with fraudulently stealing $687,694.75 from Toledo Public Schools between 2002 and 2006. THE BLADE/ANDY MORRISON Enlarge | Photo Reprints

A day after a former Toledo Public Schools administrator was indicted on multiple charges for allegedly stealing more than $687,000 from the school district, an alleged co-conspirator also was charged in the case.

John Briggle, 56, was indicted by a Lucas County grand jury Wednesday on one count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity and six counts of tampering with records. If convicted, he faces up to 40 years in prison.

The Toledo businessman was named as co-conspirator in the indictment of Daniel Burns, the district's chief business manager who was indicted on 25 charges Tuesday and faces up to 133 years in prison if convicted.

The two are charged with fraudulently stealing $687,694.75 from the school district between 2002 and 2006.

John Weglian, chief of the special-units division of the Lucas County Prosecutor's Office, said yesterday that Briggle faced fewer charges than his co-defendant because he had cooperated with authorities locally as well as during a similar investigation in Cleveland. However, he added that the seriousness of the case meant that Briggle still faces significant charges.

"He's looking at prison time here," Mr. Weglian said.

Burns, 54, was indicted Tuesday on one count each of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, theft, and theft in office, as well as 22 counts of tampering with records. He is scheduled to be arraigned Sept. 2 before Judge Ruth Ann Franks of Lucas County Common Pleas Court.

Authorities believe the two worked together to orchestrate a scheme in which Briggle's printing company, Superior Offset Supplies, billed the school district for thousands of dollars' worth of supplies and services that were not delivered. Briggle would cre-ate fraudulent bills through his firm and submit them to Burns, who in turn would have them paid, authorities said. The pair then allegedly would split the proceeds.

District officials said at a recent media conference that they felt betrayed by Burns and believe they have changed procedures to catch any similar fraudulent activity in the future.

The district is negotiating with a bonding company to have the money reimbursed, officials said.

The two men continued the alleged scheme in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District after it hired Burns as chief operating officer in 2006. On July 14, Burns was sentenced in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court to six years in prison after being convicted by a jury of defrauding the Cleveland district of nearly $155,000.

Briggle was sentenced in the same court Aug. 2 to four years in prison for his role.

Mr. Weglian said Briggle likely will appear on the new indictment before Judge James Bates, who is presiding over a similar but unrelated case involving Toledo Hospital. Briggle pleaded no contest Tuesday to aggravated theft for his involvement in a fraud resulting in a $149,117.75 theft from Toledo Hospital between 2002 and 2004.

He faces up to five years in prison in that case when sentenced Aug. 31.

Briggle's attorney, James Van Deilen, acknowledged that the criminal activity in Cleveland "was an extension of what happened here." He said that his client realizes the financial damage he's caused and is prepared to make amends.

"He admitted what he did," Mr. Van Deilen said after Briggle's hearing Tuesday. "John understands that there is a price to pay."

Contact Erica Blake at:

eblake@theblade.com

or 419-213-2134.