"Rain Some $$$": The School Superintendent Secretly Selling Verkada
A school superintendent in New Jersey is secretly selling Verkada on the job, excitedly emailing a Verkada rep, "I think April may rain some $$$" and "check chart" on which prospects they have contacted.
IPVM discovered hundreds of emails from the official account of Michael Fox, Superintendent of the Demarest School District, showing how he used his position to help Verkada secure meetings and close deals with school districts in Bergen County, New Jersey.
Fox is one of the highest-paid superintendents in NJ, with a ~$228,000 salary. He worked with Verkada reps - often during school hours - in a prearranged sales approach in which he endorses Verkada in his official capacity but does not disclose various gifts Verkada gave him.
This is the latest in a series of unethical activities involving Verkada that IPVM has uncovered in Bergen County, NJ: Verkada Hosted Dinner and Drinks For Public School Superintendent, The Chief Investigator Secretly Closing Deals For Verkada, and Public School IT Director Has Sold $800,000+ of Verkada This Year.
**** **** ********* * ******, ***** on *** ********, ** **** *************.
Executive *******
**** ******** ******** ** ****** **** a *-***** ******, ***** ** **** 2022, **** ** ***** ******** ****** school ***** (**** ****** ******** *************** ** ****.) *** ******** *******:
- ************** *** **** ** ***** ** emails ********* ******* ** ** ********* school ********* ** *** ******, ********* 8 ********* ** *** **** ****** of ******.
- *** ******* * ******* *** "* know *** *** ****** ***** ** completing **** *****. * ***** ***** may **** **** $$$" ***** ******** in ** *** ****** ** * Verkada ****.
- *** ****** ******* ****** *** ***** leads, ********* * ******* *** ** "check *****" ***** *** *** ********* a ****** ******** **** *** ******* marked ** "*** **********".
- *** ***** ****** *** *********** ** local *************** ("****") ** ****** **** Verkada, *.*. ****** * ******* *** "need ** ***** ** ***?" *** touting *** ******* ** *** ******* reps "** ***** ** **** ** the ***************".
- *** ****** * ******* *** *** directly ********** * "***" **** *** was ******* ** ******* ****, ******* "most **** ** *** **** ** deal **** ***** **** ***** **** are *****".
- ** *** ****** **** ********, *** did *** ******** ** *** ******* officials ** ********* **** ** ******** at ***** ***** ***** ****** ** Verkada, ********* * ***** ** * high-end ********** **** $**.** ** $***.** steaks *** * ****** ** ** upscale ******* **********.
- *** **** *** *** ******** ** his ******** **** ** *** ******** a ******* **** **** *** ******* a *-**** ******* ******* ***** ** would "*********** *** *** **** ******** accesses *** ****** ******** ******* ** seconds"
*** *** ******** *** *** ******* to ****'* ******* ********. ***** ******* admitted **** ***** **** ***** ** Fox, ******* *** *** ******* **** gifts, *** ***** ****** ** ******* they ******** **** **** *************. *******, Verkada ******** **** **** *** *** compensate *** ** ** ********, **********, or *****.
Fox **********
******* "****" *** *** ********* **** ** ******* ********* *** ********* ****** ** Superintendent ** *** ******** ****** ******** in ****** ******, **
*** ** *** ** *** ******'* top *** *******-**** ****** *********, ******* $228,477 **** ****, ********* **** ********** *****.*** (*** ********* *************** ** $***,***).******** ****** *********** ***** ******* *** ***** *** students.
"I ***** ***** *** **** **** $$$"
** ** ***** *, **** ***** from *** ******** ******** ******* ** Verkada ******* ************** ******, *** ***** *** ******** ** Saddle ***** *** ***** ****** ****** districts, ***** ** ****** **********, **** for *******.
** **** ***** ** ****** ****** an "***** ** * ***" [**************]. Four ******* *****, ****** ********* **** Fox's ***** ** ** ***** ** the ************** "***** ** *****":
****** ********** ********* ** *** **** "Every ******* **** ****." *******, *** praised ****** "*****" ******, *** ***** Investigator ** ****** ******'* ****** ** the ********* *******, ****** ********** ** ***** ******* *****.*** **** *****, "* **** *** are ****** ***** ** ********** **** deals. * ***** ***** *** **** some $$$":
******* *** *** ******* *** ********* to ****'* ********* ********* *** ******* compensates ***, *** **** ** ** compensated, *** *** *** ************ *** not *********.
"It ***** * *** ** ** **** ****** ***** **"
** * **** *, **** ***** to ****** *** ******* ******, *** scolded ****** ***** ********** ** ***** emails ** ***** ****** *************** **** Fox *** ******** ****** ** ** a ***** ****.
*** ********* **** ** *** **** "courting" *** **************, * ******* ** and ******* **** ******** ** ***** Bergen ****** *********, *** ******** *** he ******** ** **** ******* ** secretly ********* *** ***** **** ** emails:
*** ********* *** ***** ** ******* his ****** ****** *********** *** ******* his "***** **********," ********* ** *** level ** ***** *** ******** *******, before ******* ******:
* ****** **** **** ******** ** it ***** * *** ** ** that ****** ***** **.
*******, *** ***** ****** ** "***** or ****" *** ** **** *** review *** ***** ********.
Pushes ******* ******* ******* **********
** **** ** *** ***** *****, Verkada *** *** ***********, *** ********* Pablo ******,******** ** ************* ****** ******'* ****** ****** ********, on **** **, ****, **** ******, Dargan, *** ******* ******* *** ******.
******* ******* ** *******, **** ** notifying ****** **** ****** "**** ** your ***** ** *******" *** ******** tours ** *** ******, *** ****** Monarch ********** *** *** ********* ***, adding "** ****** ********* *******" ********** "with *** **** ****** ****** *********" (e.g. *********, ***** ********):
******* ******* *** ******** ** **** **********, ** ********* ** ***'* *** the ** ******** ** *********** ****** District.
** ******* ***** ** **** **, 2022, **************** **** ******** ***** ****** ****** ********, ****** County, *** ***** ****** ******* *** refers ** ****** ** *** *** who "*********** ** **** *******" ******* he ** "********** **** *******":
"Some ***** ******** ** **** *****"
** * **** *, **** ***** to*** ****, *** ************** ** ****** ******'* Paramus **** ******, *** ********* "**** great ********" ** **** *** ******* representatives *** ****** "** ***** ** some ** *** *************** ***** **** summer *** ***** ** ******":
** ********, ************** ********* ***** ************ "**** ***** ** *******!"
Formal ***********: "***** *****"
* *** **, ****, ***** ******* suggests *** *** ******* **** * formal ****** *** ******** ***** ********* officials. *** ***** ** * **** sales ***** **** ******* ******* ************** ***************** ******, ************** ** ****** ******'* ****** School ********, ***** ****** ***. **** three ******* ***** ******** ******* ***, Fox ****** ******** ********* ** "***** chart" ******* "**** *** *** **********":
**** ******** **** *** *** *******, like *** ********* ***** ****, **** a ***** ********** ********* ***** *** whether ***** ***** **** ********* ******** or ***. **** ** ********** ** the ******* **** *** ********, **** Fox, ****** *** ******* *** ******* coordinating ******* ** ****** ******** ******** in ****** ******.
Fails ** ***** *********** ******
** ****** **** **** *** ****** 2022, *** **** **** ***** ******* to **-********** **** *** ***** ***** in********** ****** ********** ****** ******, ******* ** ***'* Bergen ****** **** ** ********* *** Dargan's ************.
*** **** ****** ******* *******, ******* ******** *************, ******* *****, ***** ** *****, ******* "* am ******* * ******** ******* (*******) have ** ***********" *** **** ******** has **** "******" **** *** ******, even ********** ******* ******* **** ** "esser *****" (***** ****** ***** *** *******) ** * *****:
******* ***'* ******* ** ***** ***** bases **** ** ******* ("********* ****"), customer ******* ("***************"), *** * **** trial, *** ******* ******** **** **** unsuccessful ** ******* **** ***-****** ************** to *** *******.
*********,***** ************ ****** *** ************** ******* * ******* **** *** superintendent ** * ***-****** ****** ****** in ********, ** (***** ******) **** spring.
Steakhouse ***** & ******* ****** *** ************** ***
** * *** *, ****, *****, Fox ******** ** ****** **** ******* account ************** *************** ********** (*********), * ****-*** ********** ** ****** County **** *************$**.** ** $***.**:
** **** ******* ********* ****** ****** *** ****** *** Public ****** **************, ***,***** **** ***** ** *** ****, Fox ******** * ******* ****** ** a ****-*** ****** ****** ******* ********** called*********** ********** ****** ******* $**-****** **** **** **** ******** ******* **** $46 ** $***.
"Nice ****** *** **** ***** *** * ***** ******"
** ** ***** *, ****, ***** to****** *******, ************** ** ****** ******'* ****** School ********, *** ********** ******* ******* dinner, ****** "** *** **** ****** you **** ***** *** * ***** dinner" *** ***** ******* ** "*** notch!"
*** ****** **** ******** ** *** confirm ***** *** ****** **** *****. IPVM *** ********* ***** ***** ****** by ******* ***** *** ******** ** 2022.
********Gift ****
** ** ***** **, ****, ***** from ******* ***** ********* ************* ******, *** ******** * **** **** from *******, ******** ******* ***** *** value **** ******** **** ****'* ****** records *******:
*** **** **** *** *** ********** at * **** ** ******* ******* where *** ***** "*********** *** *** team ******** ******** *** ****** ******** footage ** *******" ****** ** *******:
School ****** ***: ****** *** ******** *** "********* ****"
****** ****** ****** ****** ************* ****** **** "** ****** ********" "shall ***" ***** ********** "*** *** purpose ** ******** ********* **** *** himself."
*** *** **** ********* ****** ********* from ********** ** ********* "*** ****" or "*****" **** *** ******* ** "influencing ***, ******** ** **********, ** the ********* ** *** ******** ******":
*******, ******* ** ****** *** ****** ***** Members(*** ** ******* ** *** ******** ***** ** Education), ****** ******* **** "******" ** "use *** ******* *** ******** ****":
********** ** *** *** ****** ****** Ethics ****** ******** "*********, *******, ********** ** *******".
Disclosure ********
*** ****** ** ***** ***** ** aggregate ** **** $***, *** *** source ** ****** **** $*,*** **** be ********* ** *****-***************** ********** ********** (***).******* *** *** ******** *** **** calendar **** ** *** *** ***** 2023. ***'* *** ****************** *************** ** ******* ** *******.
Verkada ********
******* **** **** ** *** "***** paid" ************** *** *** ***** ************ Dargan "*** ******, **********, *** ** other ************" *** ***** ** ********* "any **** ** ************* ***** ** anyone":
has ***** **** Mr. Fox or Mr. Dargan any salary, commission, fee, or other compensation as an employee, consultant or agent of *******.
***** (**** ** **** ***** ** meals) *** * ******** ****** *** governed *********** ******* ****** **** ********* ********* from ********any **** ** ************* ***** ** ****** – including to public school or other government employees. We take violations of this policy very seriously and are always looking to do the right thing. [emphasis added]
**** *** ******** ** ****** **** makes * **** "*************" *** *** value ** ***** ** *** ***** Superintendent ***, ***** ** ******** ** least ***** ******* ****** ** ******* and ******** * **** **** **** the *******.
Fox/Demarest ** ********
************** *** *** ******** ****** ******** did *** ******* ** ****'* ******* requests.
New ****** ********** ** ********* ********
*** *** ****** ********** ** ********* declined ** ******* ************ ** *** case, ****** ******** ******** ** *** School ****** ***:
**** ******** ** *** ***** ******* is ** *** ** *** ***** they *** ** *** **** ******** as *** ***** **** *******? ***** cameras *** ***** ********* ** ******* company's *** ******** *********** *** **** are ***** **********, ********* *** ******* typically ** ** *****, *** ******** professionals *** ***** **** *** ******** licensed. ******* ** *** ** *** Security ********. **** *** *** ** embarrassment *** ** *** ******** * am **, **** *** ** ************* to **********. **** *** ******* ** of ***** ** * ******** - the ***** ***** *********.
******* ** **** ********** ** *** security ********. **** **** ****** *******, alarms, *** ******* ** ****** **** a *****.
* *** ***** ******. ****** ***'* take ** *** *********. **** *** in *** ******** ******** *** *** reasons *** ***** *** **** **** because ***** ******** **** *** *** like * ****** ** *** **** a **** ** * ********. *** every ************ *'** *** **** ******* wanting ** *** ******* *** ***** - * **** **** * ******, or **** ** *** ******** *** to *** * ****** "****" ** "there" ******* * *** **** ** do ** ***. ***** ************ *** about - **** *** * ****** ASAP, ** *** ***** ***** * solution ** ***** ********. ** ******* is * ********* ******** - ** solve ******** - ** ** *** SELL *******. ******* ***** *******. ** provide ********* ***** *******. **** ** the ********** * *** ****** ** express.
******, **** *** *** ******** **** any ********** ** *********** ** **************. Their ******** *** ** *********** **** success ** *** **** * ********* consultant ********* *** ******. *** *** qualified ********** **** ** *********** ***** the *** *** ***** ******* ********** with * ******-****** *** ****** ******.
** **** **** *** **** ******* in **** ***** ** ** ***** client's ******** **** *********. ******* *****'* scare ** *** *** *** **** are ************ *** ***** ** **** does. **** ******* *** ***** * have ****** **** *** ***** ****** in *** ******* *** *** **** get **** ** *** *** *****. At **** *****, **'* *** **** and *** **** ** **** *** that ****** ** **** **.
****** *** ***'* **** ******* *** sell *********. ****** ** *** ** the ******* ******** *** **** *** mean *******'* "***" *******, ** *** take ******** **** ******** **** *** may **** ** *** ** ** the ******. *** ******* **** ***, sleezy *** *****, *** *******. **** at ***** *******.
* **** ********* *** **** **** business ** **** *** ****** * could *****.
********* ** *** **** **** *** help ****** **** ****** *** *** all.
* **** **** ** ***** ** successful ******* *** **** **** ********* like **** ****** ***** ******* **** they *** ** * ******* ******* level, ***** *********, *** **** *** new ****** *** ************ **********. *** build * ******* ** * ******* level, **** ******** ******** ********, *** publicity *** ****, ****** *** ** happen, ** ********* ***.
** ***'* ** ***** ****** *** to **** *** *** ***** ******* methods *** ******* *** ******** **** the *** ****.
* ***** ** **** **** *** same *****. ******* ****** *****'* ***** me *** ***** ***** ******* **.
***** *** *** ********* ** ****. The **** *** ** **** *** corruption ** ** ***** * ***** on **. ****** ********* ****** ** publishing * ****** *** *** ****** bids ** ** ***** ***** ********** to **** ***********.
** * ******** ****: * *********** the ******* ******. ** ** ***** in *** ****** ****** *******, *** ruled *** ****/**** **** ******** ******* and ******** **** ******* **. **** tried ** *** *** ** ******* other ***** *******. ********** ** *** to ***** ***** ******* *** *******, which *** *** **** **** *** messaging *-****** ** ** *** ********.
******* *** ** *******'* *** ** of *****,.. *****?
**** ** ********* **** *** *** 3 ***** ********.
“*** *** ********* *** **** ** to ********* ** ** ***** ********* who ***** ** * **** ***.” - ***** ******, **** *** ******** RSM ** *** *******
*** ** *** ******* ******** ******* in *** ******* ** ** ** state *** **** **** *** ** a ****** *** **** *** * year ** *** ******** **** **** them **** ***************/************* ** ***** ********* and **** **** * ******** ** that ******* ******** ****** ** *** of ***** *************** *** * ******.
** *** ****** ******* ********* ** is *** ******** **** ******* * discount?
***** *** ** **** "****" ** way ***!!
***** ** ******* *** *** ****** it **** $$$, ****** *** ******** dream. *'* **** ******* **** **** a ******** ********* *** *** ** needed ** ** *** ******** ** make ** **** **** *****.
*’* ******** ****** *** *** ******** have *** **** ********** ****** ** Mr. *** *** *******. ***** **** for *** ********!
******** ****** *********** ***** ******* *** ***** *** students.
** ***** $***,*** ********** * ******** with ***** ******* *** **** *** students!?!?! **** ** *** **** ***** here.
* *** **** *************** **** *** money ********** ********* **** **+ ******* and ******** ** ******** *** *****, but **** ** **********.
**** ** **** *** *** ** the *******. **** **** **** **** perks **** *** **********, * *** of *** **** **** ********** *** provide * *** ****** **** **** leave, ********* ******* ********** ** **** have * '****' *******.
****, **** **** '******' **** * cushy ******* **** **, **** ** become * ************** ****** *** ****** in ** *** *** **** **** salary. **** *-* ***** *** ****** with * ****, ****** ******* **** Jersey, ******* **** **.
* ***'* ******* ******* ** ***'* position **** ** **** *** ********* as ****** ** * **** ****, which ** *** **** ****** ** measly ******* **** ******** ** *** some ****** * *** ***** ** no ********* ******. *** *** *** redaction ** **** ********? *** *******? I *** *** ***** **** *************** if *** **** *** *******, *** again, ** *** *********** ******* *** Verkada ** **** *****, ***** **** the ********, "**** *** *** ***?"
**** ***! ** *** **** ** a ***, ** *** ****, ***** making $****…** *** ****** **** **** guy ****** ********* **** ****** **** kids?
** * **** ****** ** *** his **** (**** ***** ** *** taking ******** *****, ***** *** *** personal ********, ***.) *** **** ** all **** *** ****. ** ****** to **** ******'* ***** ** ** was ********* **** ***** ************* *** systematically.
******.
**** ****** **** ** *** ****** bid *** *** ****** ** *** an ***? *** * **** ***** known * *** **** **** ** in *** ****** ** **** **** the ***** ** *** ****** *** I ***** ***** **** ** ***. IPVM ****** ***** *** ****** ***** meeting ******* *** ****** *** *********** documents. *** ******** ********* *** **** was *** ********** ********? **** *** the ***** ******? ** ***** *** any ******, ***** ********* ***** ******* some *****.. ***** *** ***** ***** the ***** ********, ** ** ******* some **** ** ********* ** ** least *** ** ********** **** ***** the ************** ** *****.
** ** *** ******** *** * vendor ** **** ******* ** ***** or ****** (***** *** *********** ** report ***** ***** *** ****** *****). I **** ***'* ***** *** * bad ***** *** *** *** ** recommend ******* ** **** *** * good ***. *** *** * **** that "******* *******" *** *** ********* a **** *** ** **, *** I ***** ********* **** *** ***... or *** **** ****** *** ** guy... ***** ****. * **** **** IT *********** ******* ** **** ** security, ***** ****** **** ** ******* it ***.
****'* ***** *********** **** **** ****. Let *** ***** **** ** ******** decision.
**** **** *****. ** ** "** guy".edu *** ***** ** ********* ******** security ******** ** *** ** * trusted ******* **** *** ****** ****** department. **** ** **** ******** *** replacement *** *** ******* *** ************ system *** ** **** ******** ** agreed **** ****** *** ******** ************ and ******** *** ******* ***** ** those ************. ** *** *********** *** Kastle ********** **** *** ***** ******** Verkada *** ****** ** *** ******* list. *** ************ ******** ** ***** 20 ********* *** ** ** ****** and ********. *** **** ******* ******* away ****** *********** ******* **** *** not **** *** ************.
* *****. ***** ** **** * technical *** * ******** ********* ****.
*** * ***** ********* **** *** Sup... ** *** **** ****** *** IT ***... ***** ****. * **** seen ** *********** ******* ** **** of ********, ***** ****** **** ** control ** ***.
****, * **** ** **** **** out * ****** ** ***** **** to * **** ********* *****. *** me ********.
"... *** * ***** ********* **** the ***... ** *** **** ****** many ** **** ***** *** ****. In *** ****** **** * **** seen ** **** ** **** ** security ******* ****** ** ******* *** network ************. * ***** ** ****** because ** ** *** ********* ******, many ******* **** *** **** ** them **** **** **** ****** ** deal **** *******. *** ***** '** it *** * ******* **********, **** it's **'* **************', ** ***** **** because ***** *** *** **** ***** folks ** *** ****.
*** ****** ******* ********** *** *** potential ***
** *** (* **** ********) ** recommending **unlicensed ********** do work for other govt entities?
******** ****** ** *** **** **** using *** *** "*** ** *** henhouse"
*** **** ***** ******* ** **** happening ****** *** *******?
**** ** ************ *** *** ********.