Former Carrollton Schools officials plead guilty in scheme to sell air purifiers to the district through shell companies

Three former Carrollton Exempted Village Schools officials have admitted their roles in a scheme to sell air purifiers to the district using two shell companies, Auditor of State Keith Faber announced.

Former superintendent David Quattrochi, former school board member Michael Pozderac and former teacher Mary “Jackie” Pozderac, pleaded guilty last month in Carroll County Common Pleas Court.

They were indicted in December 2022 on multiple felony charges. As part of a plea agreement:

• Quattrochi pleaded guilty to a single count of theft in office, a fourth-degree felony.

• Michael Pozderac pleaded guilty to a single count of theft in office, a third-degree felony.

• Mary “Jackie” Pozderac pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of having an unlawful interest in a public contract.

The Auditor of State’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU), the law enforcement division of the office, began investigating after learning that a vendor’s fax number listed on a purchase order was the same as a golf course owned by Michael Pozderac.

SIU determined the Pozderacs and Quattrochi (and a co-defendant, allegedly) used two shell companies, The Phoenix Rising and Pozitively Quality Air, to sell air purifiers totaling $70,450 to the school district. The three and a co-defendant allegedly then divided the resulting profits among themselves while attempting to hide their involvement from the district.

Due to a potential conflict of interest, the Carroll County Prosecutor’s Office appointed SIU attorneys to serve as special prosecutors in the case.

Since 2019, the Special Investigations Unit has assisted in 111 convictions resulting in more than $5.8 million in restitution. The team receives hundreds of tips of suspected fraud annually. Tips can be submitted anonymously online or via SIU’s fraud hotline at 866-FRAUD-OH (866-372-8364).