Sequoyah County educator faces time in taking money

BY SHEILA STOGSDILL

Published: October 3, 2008

MUSKOGEE — A former Sequoyah County school superintendent charged in federal court with embezzlement was sentenced Thursday to two years in prison in connection with the theft of nearly $1 million from Marble City Schools.

Larry Couch, 55, of Vian pleaded guilty in May in to federal charges of embezzlement of government funds and filing a false tax return. He was also ordered to forfeit $979,000, which went toward $1,088,948 restitution he owes the Marble City School District.

Couch was also placed on two years probation and fined $4,000.

A state audit shows Couch used a closed school organization to launder money to buy land and pay for other expenditures related to a farming operation. Auditors think Couch concealed school funds totaling $948,202.

U.S. Attorney Sheldon Sperling said the forfeiture charge was dropped in July after restitution was made.

The former superintendent moved for less than the original sentence recommended of 37 months to 46 months imprisonment, Sperling said. Couch claimed admitting responsibility to the crime, health issues, and record of charitable service put him at low risk of committing another crime.

"We are grateful that the embezzled money was returned to the school district,” Sperling said.

"Exceptional restitution is one thing. The consequence of significant federal theft is a prison cell.”

Couch will serve a prison term without parole, he said. Couch was suspended in November 2007 when the state Board of Education voted to revoked his teaching certificate after hearing testimony that he had falsified forms submitted in the school’s request for state aid. Couch resigned from his school post in April.

Couch must is ordered to report to the Bureau of Prisons by Nov. 3 to begin serving his sentence.