Calvin Walker

Electrician allowed to keep BISD contract

Although U.S. Attorney Special Prosecutor Bob Rawls attempted to make Beaumont Independent School District contract electrician Calvin Walker forfeit employment with the school district, federal judge Ron Clark refused to make the stipulation part of Walker’s plea agreement with the court Dec. 12. 

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U.S. Attorney’s Office amends Walker plea agreement

Beaumont Independent School District (BISD) electrical contractor Calvin Walker must again report before a federal judge to answer allegations he bilked the school district and the federal government out of millions of dollars. He is scheduled to appear in Beaumont’s federal courthouse Dec. 12. Walker is expected to take a plea deal, but paperwork filed at the court earlier this week changes the scope of the deal.

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BISD board forgoes Walker funds

Beaumont Independent School District (BISD) trustees voted 4-2 to forego any right to roughly $2 million forfeited by district electrical contractor Calvin Walker, who admitted to falsifying invoices submitted to the school district for payment. The decision to not seek the funds came Oct. 18, a day after an attempt by BISD board president Woodrow Reece and Melody Chappell to claim attorney’s fees from the Walker money was denied by a federal court.

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BISD's opening motion for Walker money rejected

A U.S. federal court has rejected a motion from Beaumont Independent School District (BISD) attorney Melody Chappell seeking recovery of attorney fees, along with other fees, that the district incurred when asked to provide testimony and documentation in the case of the United States v. Calvin Walker of Walker’s Electric Company, the district’s electrical contractor of record.

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BISD revisits surrendered funds pursuit

Calvin Walker

At least two governmental agencies are looking at ways to collect money from Beaumont Independent School District (BISD) electrical contractor of record, Walker’s Electric Company, including BISD and the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR).

Show me the money

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Walker contract extended with BISD

Calvin Walker is a lousy bookkeeper.

That was the sentiment shared by Beaumont Independent School District Superintendent Dr. Carrol Thomas on Thursday night, July 26, after the Board of Trustees voted 4-2 to extend the district’s electrical contract with the 51-year-old Walker for another year.

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Plenty of money up for grabs – if BISD wants it

UPDATE: At its meeting Thursday night, July 26, the BISD Board of Trustees voted 4-2 to extend electrician Calvin Walker's contract with the district, despite his recent plea.

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Opening statements in Walker trial

After a lengthy jury selection process, 10 women and two men were seated to hear the case against Calvin Walker, of Walker's Electric Company, where the Bob Rawls with the U.S. Attorney Office for the Eastern District of Texas will try to convince them that Walker defrauded taxpayers by falsifying invoices and requests for payment submitted to the district for payment.

"This case is about greed," Rawls told the jury. "It is a violation of the public trust and theft of public funds."

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UPDATE: Calvin Walker's wife claims company ownership

Calvin Walker, left, shown here with his daughter

UPDATE:

After spending more than an hour behind closed doors discussing the contract between Walker's Electric and the Beaumont Independent School District, trustees voted to allow the school attorney, Melody Chappell, review invoices and other documents - tabling the issue of whether or not to suspend the relationship between the company and BISD.

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FBI takes BISD computer, talks with staff

Continuing its ongoing investigation into allegations of wrongdoing related to a $388.6 million bond initiative passed by voters in 2007, two agents with the FBI and a prosecutor with the U.S. Department of Justice for the Eastern District of Texas were at the Beaumont Independent School District administration building this week to retrieve a computer for FBI analysis, The Examiner has confirmed. Additionally, several staff members have been questioned by federal authorities.

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