U.S. Attorney Sheldon J. Sperling delivered checks totaling $1,088,948.41 to Marble City School Friday morning as part of restitution owed to the school by former superintendent Larry Couch, who pleaded guilty in May to federal embezzlement charges.

Couch, 55, of Vian pleaded guilty on May 28 to counts of embezzlement of government funds, making and subscribing a false tax return and criminal forfeiture of $979,000.

Couch was charged last year in Sequoyah County District Court in Sallisaw with embezzlement of $100,000 of school money for an alleged personal land purchase. An investigative audit of school records released in February revealed nearly $1 million in questionable expenditures at the school over the past 10 years. Couch used an outside bank account to conceal over $900,000 deposits and expenditures of school funds, audit officials said.

A pre-sentence report was ordered and upon its completion, Couch's sentencing will be scheduled. Currently Couch is free on bond. He faces up to 10 years in prison on the embezzlement count and up to three years for the tax-related charge. Sperling said he expects sentencing to be held in the next month.

A signed plea agreement allowed federal authorities to seize properties until the criminal forfeiture of $979,000 was satisfied. The plea deal in federal court includes a charge against Couch in Sequoyah County District Court, which was filed in August 2007.

On Friday, the school received three checks: $100,000, $879,000, and $109,948.41. The money includes not only the embezzlement amount, but also the expense incurred by the school for the investigation. Couch has also made $70,000 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service, according to Sperling.

"If I'm gratified about anything, it's that we had an embezzler who invested the money," Sperling said during the presentation, noting that Couch invested the money in his farm and real estate.

"This proceeding renders the Marble City School District as whole as prosecutors can," Sperling said. "If there's a silver lining here, it's that the embezzled money wasn't blown at a casino or racetrack or on something that sparkles, burns gas, and depreciates."

Sperling said the school's fiscal year began July 1 and he was hopeful that the restitution will enable the school to immediately and wisely invest in the education of the students.

When asked if any interest was determined in the case, Sperling said in terms of investment, Couch did not put money in a money market account, but the money was invested in Couch's ranch, equipment and land.

"The land did appreciate until recently," Sperling said, hinting at the recent sale of the land.

After the presentation, Superintendent Bill London said the school has a decision to make about the money. He expected part of the money would go into the building fund, from which some of the money was embezzled, while the rest would go into the school's general fund.

London indicated they were concerned about having to give the money back to the state. He explained that if the school has a carryover amount over 35 percent of the budget, they would lose the money. The school has worked with state officials and received a waiver for one year, allowing them to spend the money and not have an excessive carryover.

London said the school plans to fill every school position available, as well as zero in on technology.

"This will give Marble City the opportunity to do some thing we dream about," he said.

London said they expect to enroll about 135 students in the fall, which is a decrease in students. He did not elaborate on the reason for the decrease.

"I did not think this day would ever happen," Ramon Bolin, school board president, said, adding that the money would be well spent.

Bolin was the person who instigated the investigation by questioning school expenditures and bringing his concerns to the county treasurer, Trica Yates. Yates looked into Bolin's concerns and then reported her findings to Sequoyah County District Attorney Jerry Moore, who began an investigation. That investigation led to a state audit and the discovery of nearly $1 million embezzled from the school - all pointing to Couch.

"I feel like we won a game show or the lottery or something," Bolin said.

While Bolin was happy the school received the restitution, he still indicated he wanted jail time for Couch.

"We're still hoping he goes and serves some time," he said.

During the presentation, Sperling thanked and acknowledged the work of all those involved in the case and investigation, including Sperling's first assistant and criminal chief, Doug Horn, as well as Moore.

"Doug was our lead federal prosecutor in this case. Jerry led the state prosecution. They worked meticulously - individually and together - to enable this outstanding result," Sperling said.

Moore thanked the state auditor's office and audit investigator Sherri Combs and investigators from his office, and he gave credit to Yates and Bolin.

"I'm very happy to call her a friend," Moore said of Yates. "We appreciate her greatly."

Moore praised Bolin for the investigation. "He had not only the intelligence, but the gumption to go forward," he said.

Moore also commented on the speed in which the case was resolved.

"Many of us are too familiar with the adage 'justice grinds slowly,'" he said. "One of the reasons this case is exceptional is the swift and concise manner in which it has moved forward. It's nice, rewarding, to be a part of collective effort that can move a case of this magnitude to this point in just over a year."