Former Floyd County School System employee Derry Richardson has been sentenced to 20 years in prison; that sentence was handed down Monday in Floyd County Superior Court.

Richardson, a resident of Chattooga County, is accused of being the mastermind behind the scheme defrauding the Floyd County School System out of millions of dollars over a period of several years.  He, along with several family members, was accused of falsifying invoices for work that was never done and goods that were never received.  Judge Jack Niedrach acting on a recommendation from the Floyd County District Attorney’s office, sentenced Richardson to 20 years in prison, followed by 20 years on probation.  There’s still a question about how much restitution Richardson will be ordered to pay.

Dwayne Richardson, Jimmy Richardson, Lisa Richardson, Rodney Holder, Charles Sherman, Russell Burkhalter, Sam Tucker, and Harry Bailey, entered negotiated pleas to RICO-related charges Monday morning.  Most of the defendants who pled guilty on Monday morning were sentenced to either home confinement or probation – several will be required to pay restitution to the county schools or fines.

Derry Richardson, who pled guilty to the charges, will begin serving time next month.

(WZQZ/Chattooga County Radio; Rome News Tribune/www.northwestgeorgianews.com)