Contractor For Columbus Schools Faces Federal Fraud Charges

U.S. Attorney Carter Stewart Wednesday announced federal fraud charges against a contractor for the Columbus City Schools. The indictment against Ashkir Ali of Columbus alleges Ali falsified invoices and payment forms for tutoring low income students. The charges indicate Ali billed the school district $50,000 in funds passed through a federal grant program. Ali was arrested on Tuesday and then released pending his next court date. State Auditor David Yost says today's charges against Ali are separate from his investigation of alleged attendance data rigging. Yost says the investigation into data manipulation is ongoing and "not imminent." .