The former president of Madison Height's local school district pleaded guilty in federal court to accepting bribes from a contractor in exchange for school construction projects, as well as tax evasion, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Albert Morrison was the president of Madison District Public Schools' board from 2012 to 2018, a school district with about 1,000 students in Madison Heights. Morrison made his plea on April 25 in U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Michigan, as part of a plea agreement. Morrison pleaded guilty to two counts, one count of bribery and one count of federal income tax evasion.

According to federal prosecutors, Morrison's company accepted more than $550,000 in checks from a building maintenance and reconstruction company, Emergency Restoration, a company owned by John David. In exchange, David's company received $3.1 million in maintenance and construction projects in the district. Morrison reportedly denied having ties to David during a school board meeting.

"David admitted he had to 'pay to play' in the school district, and David’s companies received approximately $3,167,275 from the Madison District during the bribery conspiracy," reads a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office. "Morrison spent the money from David on personal luxuries such as vacations in Florida and a boat slip."

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Morrison also failed to declare the payments from David as income over five years and failed to file a federal income tax return completely for four of those years, dodging $118,200 in taxes.

Sentencing in the case has been scheduled for 1 p.m. Aug. 28 before Judge Laurie Michelson. Both counts come with maximum prison term of five years.

Morrison, through attorney Rhonda Brazile, could not immediately be reached for comment.

Contact Lily Altavena: laltavena@freepress.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Former school board president pleads guilty to bribery, tax evasion