Former Northern Kentucky School Superintendent Sentenced For Embezzling Money

COVINGTON, KY - The former superintendent for the Dayton Independent School District has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for embezzling school funds during his tenure.

U.S. District Judge David L. Bunning sentenced William Rye, 66, of Wilder, Ky., for embezzlement. Under federal law, Rye will have to serve at least 85 percent of his prison sentence and following his release he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for three years. Following the sentencing, Rye was released on his own recognizance and ordered to report on June 2 to a prison facility designated by the Bureau of Prisons. Rye has already paid full restitution in the amount of $193,149.22.

Rye pled guilty in December 2013 and admitted that, between 2004 and 2012, he embezzled approximately $193,149.22 from the Dayton Independent School District, while serving as school superintendent. The Dayton School District annually receives in excess of $10,000 in federal funds.

Kerry B. Harvey, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Perrye Turner, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, jointly made the announcement today.

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura K. Voorhees represents the federal government in this case.