Man Pleads Guilty To Using Fake Tutoring Scheme

A former local businessman has pleaded guilty to defrauding Columbus and South-Western City Schools out of more than $100,000 in tutoring payments. Ashkir Ali faces at least two years in prison after admitting to stealing student identities and adding them to fake invoices in order to receive payments. Prosecutors say he defrauded Columbus City School out of $100,000, and South-Western City Schools out of $20,000. As part of a plea agreement, Ali agreed to testify against others implicated in the scheme.