Two former school officials stand accused of misusing $50,000, which was originally intended to support at-risk students. Instead, they allegedly indulged in extravagant purchases such as luxury handbags and jewelry, as well as covering private school fees for their relatives.
The Westchester District Attorney’s Office has brought serious criminal charges against Oliver Levy, the former Greenburgh-Graham Union Free School District superintendent, and Surendra Kumar, a former security system specialist.
School Officials Accused of Diverting Funds for Personal Luxuries
Levy, 55, of Stony Point, and Kumar, 48, of Yonkers, are accused by prosecutors of orchestrating a scheme to misappropriate funds from the Westchester district. According to the allegations, between July 2018 and June 2022, they bought 168 gift cards. However, instead of using all the cards for school-related purposes, they reportedly spent around $50,000 on personal expenses. These expenses included veterinary services, luxurious handbags, and private school tuition for their family members.
Levy and Kumar faced initial arrest in May 2024, but this week, they were confronted with upgraded charges. The charges now include grand larceny as crimes of public corruption, grand larceny, and corrupting the government. In court on Wednesday, both of them pleaded not guilty.
Levy started his career in 2008 as a teacher’s aide and eventually worked his way up to become a superintendent. However, he was put on leave after the allegations surfaced. Unfortunately, his contract expired while he was on leave and it was not renewed.
