Jun.12, 2010
According to the attorney of the Russian couple, Selivanov and Berkovich have denied any wrongdoing. The couple was set to appear before a Los Angeles County Superior court yesterday for an arraignment but it was postponed until next month.
Selivanov and Berkovich faces 38 felony and misdemeanor counts for their involvement in wrong practices during 2004-2009 in their operation of Ivy Academia. The school is a well-known in Los Angeles as it is in the state's top 30% of schools.
Selivanov has been charged with six counts of misappropriation of public funds, embezzlement by a public or private officer, money laundering and filing a false tax return, while his wife is facing charge for misdemeanor count of conflict of interest. According to the District Attorney's Office. If convicted, Selivanov may get a prison term of 14 years and two months, while Berkovich may land herself in jail for nine years.
The Ivy Academia was set up in 2004 and it has four campuses, in Woodland Hills, West Hills, Winnetka and Chatsworth. The school bills itself on its website as "one of the highest performing charter schools in California."