The former president of a charter school in Philadelphia was arrested for allegedly stealing and embezzling funds. 

Masai Skief, head of the Harambee Institute of Science Technology charter school, was sentenced to 36 months for embezzling more than $80,000.

Skeif is accused of organizing a scheme to illegally obtain funds from the charter school.  He took control of the Institute's bank accounts and set up a series of improper cash withdrawals by disguising the transactions as "labor" cost, but there was no labor associated with the withdrawals.  

He also took $9,000 from the Harambee Institute's scholarship fund to buy himself a house in Philadelphia.

Skeif allegedly hid his illegal activity, hired an accountant to create IRS forms with false information, told others to lie for him to federal agents and presented fake documents in court. 

While awaiting sentencing, Skeif allegedly continued to steal and took a total of $12,000 and used the Institute's debit card 43 times. 

U.S. District Court Judge, Paul S. Diamond, ordered Skief to pay restitution in the amount of $88,000 with three years of supervised release.  

Skeif is the eighth Philadelphia charter school official to plead guilty to federal fraud charges.