Police: Principal stole nearly $25K with fraudulent school card

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — A Sandy Springs principal who was arrested after a damaging audit stole nearly $25,000, according to a police report.

Riverwood International Charter School Principal Eddie Echols resigned in September after a routine audit revealed that he misused an unauthorized Costco American Express card under the school's name. The report said nearly $25,000 were racked up between 2008 and 2011.

Payments were made without documentation that would firmly establish whether the purchases were for appropriate school district use or for personal use, the report said. Echols repaid some of the money, but he still owes more than $18,000 to the school.

Echols told school officials he was "never given any direction as to what the card could be used for."

The issue came to light after a routine audit questioned why Echols bought a dinner for his family and paid for his wife to attend a conference with him using the card.

Fulton County School District spokeswoman Samantha Evans told Channel 2's Mike Petchenik there was no evidence Echols stole any money or that he broke the law but then the county district attorney picked up the case.

Last month, Echols was arrested on charges of theft, identity theft and credit card fraud. He has since bonded out of jail.

WSBTV