U.S. Department of Justice
United States Attorney
Northern District of Texas

DISD Employee Arrested on Charges in Federal Indictment

Marsha August Ollison, an employee of the Dallas Independent School District, (DISD) was arrested this morning on charges outlined in a federal indictment that was returned by a grand jury in Dallas earlier this week, and unsealed today, announced United States Attorney Richard B. Roper. Agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation arrested Ollison at her home in The Colony, Texas, without incident. She will appear this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Wm. F. Sanderson, Jr. for her initial appearance.

U.S. Attorney Roper praised the investigative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Education - Office of Inspector General, and stated that the investigation is ongoing.

The indictment charges Ollison, age 43, with three counts of Theft from an Organization Receiving Federal Funds, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 666(a)(1)(A). If convicted on all charges, Ollison faces a maximum statutory sentence of 30 years imprisonment, a $750,000.00 fine, and restitution.

According to the indictment, Ollison was an agent of the Dallas Independent School District (DISD), working as an employee in the administrative office. DISD issued credit cards, also known as procurement cards (P-Cards) for use by DISD employees and DISD funds were used to pay for purchases made with P-Cards. DISD employees, including Ollison, were instructed in a Procurement Card Manual that P-Cards were "for district purchases only." In fact, DISD employees, including Ollison, signed Procurement Cardholder Agreement Forms that stated, "I understand that under no circumstances will I use the procurement card to make personal purchases, either for others, or myself."

The indictment alleges that during 2004, 2005 and 2006, Ollison embezzled and stole property valued at $15,000 or more by purchasing numerous personal items for her own use and for the use of another person with a P-Card issued to her by DISD.

An indictment is an accusation by a federal grand jury and a defendant is entitled to the presumption of innocence unless proven guilty.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lynn Hastings.