United States Attorney Richard B. Roper
Northern District of Texas

PAUL QUINN COLLEGE BOARD MEMBER/TREASURER
SENTENCED ON FEDERAL CONVICTION

DALLAS — James L. Fantroy, Sr., a former Dallas City Council Member and a former member of the Board of Directors and Treasurer of Paul Quinn College Community Development Corporation (Paul Quinn CDC) in Dallas, was sentenced this morning by U.S. District Judge Ed Kinkeade to 30 days in prison, 180 days of home confinement, two years of probation and ordered to pay $17,938 restitution, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper of the Northern District of Texas. Judge Kinkeade, however, stated that if Fantroy apologized and admitted what he did was wrong, then he would waive the 30 days in prison. Judge Kinkeade ordered that Fantroy is to surrender to the Bureau of Prisons on June 25, 2008, to begin serving his sentence.

In 1998, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) approved Paul Quinn College for a $250,000 Historical Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) grant. The college hired Paul Quinn CDC to assist in administering the grant, which included the revitalization of the college’s surrounding area. Paul Quinn College entered into a real estate management agreement with Paul Quinn CDC establishing Paul Quinn CDC as the manager of the Highland Hills Shopping Center, a property owned by Paul Quinn College. It required Paul Quinn CDC to deposit all rental receipts it collected, less any sums properly deducted or otherwise provided for in the agreement, into a trust account for the benefit of Paul Quinn College.

From August 2000 through June 7, 2002, Paul Quinn College received eight disbursements totaling approximately $222,853 from HUD, pursuant to the HBCU grant. During the one year period beginning April 1, 2003, Paul Quinn College received funds from a second HBCU grant, totaling more than $10,000.

The government presented evidence at trial that from April 26, 2003, through July 30, 2003, James L. Fantroy, Sr., acting as an agent for Paul Quinn College, embezzled approximately $21,000 in monies held in trust for Paul Quinn College.

U.S. Attorney Roper praised the investigative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marcus Busch and Tammy Reno.

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