UPDATE: Former principal sentenced for embezzlement in Del.

A former Delaware school principal was sentenced for his role in stealing nearly $150,000 in school funds over a period of three years. 

The United States Attorney for the District of Delaware says on Friday, 56-year-old Noel Rodriguez, of Dover, wss sentenced to 13 months in prison and ordered to pay $145,480 in restitution for his role in a theft incident. Rodriguez pleaded guilty to one count of federal program theft on November 20, 2017.

Between 2011 and 2014, Rodriguez, the former principal of the Academy of Dover (charter school), embezzled $145,480 from the school by charging personal expenses to four unauthorized credit cards that he opened in the name of the school, abusing the voucher program, and using the charter-school issued procurement credit card for his own personal purchases. His purchases included camping equipment, electronics, personal travel, and home improvement items, among other things.

In regard to the 56-year-old's actions as a school principal, U.S. Attorney David Weiss says, " Mr. Rodriguez betrayed the public trust by using his position as Principal of the Academy of Dover to further his own interests.  The sentence imposed today holds Mr. Rodriguez accountable for stealing $145,000 meant for the children and school he was hired to serve, and it should serve as a warning to others contemplating misappropriating public funds."