St. Louis, MISSOURI

A role model no one should be proud of.
A school district no one should tolerate.

March 24, 2008 - Floyd Irons, 60, former Vashon High School coach and principal, was sentenced Monday to a year in federal prison in a $1.6 million mortgage loan fraud and kickback scheme. He was also ordered to pay back more than $653,000 in losses to banks.

In September, Irons pleaded guilty to wire and mail fraud, for buying or arranging the purchase of four homes totaling about $1.6 million, according to federal prosecutors. In each case, Irons paid significantly more than market value and falsified loan application documents to secure the money, prosecutors said. Mineo, the mortgage broker, then paid Irons and his partner kickbacks from $20,000 to $60,000 per house, according to prosecutors.

Irons was an award-winning coach. However, five of the titles may be stripped because of recruitment violations. The state association is investigating the eligibility of at least 15 Vashon players spanning nine school years, from 1998 to 2007. In 2005, an audit showed mismanagement of ticket sales, fundraiser proceeds and travel expenses associated with the basketball games and events. The audits point to basketball coach and former Principal Floyd Irons.

Last month, U.S. District Judge E. Richard Webber called the scheme one contribution to the financial "catastrophe" in the U.S. mortgage industry.
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TT - Not a single article that praised his long career mentioned the abysmal academic standards at Vashon High School that rates a 1 at Greatschools.net

The school is 100% black. They spend $10, 714 per student (compared to $7,858 statewide.) The St. Louis School District rates a 2 overall. Last year, after decades of performance problems, the state took over the district. Entry