April 17, 2015

Princeton Man Receives Prison Sentence in Multi-Million-Dollar Plano ISD Embezzlement Scheme

PLANO, TX—Kris Wilson Gentz, 59, has been sentenced to federal prison for his role in a conspiracy to embezzle over $2.5 million from the Plano Independent School District, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales.

Gentz was sentenced to 51 months in prison yesterday during a court appearance before U.S. District Judge Thad Heartfield. Gentz had pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Federal Program Theft on April 1, 2014. In addition to his prison sentence, Gentz was also ordered to pay restitution of over $2.5 million dollars.

According to information presented in court, Plano ISD employed Gentz as a Manager and Security and Fire Systems Security Support Specialist from approximately August 2001 through December 2013. Gentz was responsible for ensuring that Plano ISD schools were equipped with fire and security alarms that were properly maintained. Gentz and two other individuals set up two companies called Fire System Specialists (FSS) and Digital Security Solutions (DSS) that were allegedly in the business of maintaining fire safety systems and security systems.

Between 2004 and December 2013, Gentz and his co-conspirators generated fraudulent FSS and DSS invoices and submitted them to Plano ISD for payment. Gentz, in his Plano ISD management role, corruptly approved these invoices and the services and products referenced on the invoices were never provided or delivered. When payment was made to FSS and DSS, Gentz and his co-conspirators would split the profits between themselves. Over the course of the scheme, Gentz and his co-conspirators obtained over $2,500,000 from Plano ISD. In pleading guilty, Gentz acknowledged that he had abused the position of trust that Plano ISD had given him.

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Chris Eason and Andy Williams.