DPS vendor Norman Shy begs for leniency in bribery scandal sentencing

DETROIT – The school supply vendor who pleaded guilty to conspiracy and tax evasion charges in the scandal that rocked Detroit Public Schools asked the federal government for leniency in sentencing.

Norman Shy, 74, asked for a sentence of no more than three years in a sentencing memorandum, claiming that his age and clean record are deserving of a lesser sentence. Shy will be 75 in October.

Related: Who is the man at center of Detroit school bribery scandal?

The memorandum says it was a lapse in character which brought Shy before this court. Some 42 character letters were submitted to the court providing insight into Shy’s life. 

“When the entire picture of (Shy's) life and circumstances are considered, in conjunction with his acceptance of responsibility, his age and health status, a rounder perspective is presented, one that warrants a variance from the guidelines.”

Federal prosecutors disagree and want him behind bars for 70 to 87 months.

“Defendant Norman Shy’s greatest sin was depriving Detroit schoolchildren, for years, of the opportunity to develop their greatest abilities, thereby robbing society of numerous future potential doctors, lawyers, scientists, teachers ... the true loss in this case is far beyond financial loss, and it is incalculable.”

Shy operated Allstate Sales Inc. from 2009 to 2014 and conspired with school principals to give them payments – through DPS funding – in exchange for kickbacks.

Read back: 13 current, former DPS principals charged with bribery, conspiracy

School officials are accused of submitting fraudulent invoices to DPS for payments to Shy for supplies which never were received.

The charges came after a two-year investigation that started as a tip from the stat who was conducting an audit on the Education Achievement Authority.

Here is the full pre-sentencing memorandum submitted by Shy: