A man who worked in a program to recruit Nigerian graduate students into Pittsburg State University's Masters of Business Administration program has been accused of fraudulently taking more than $148,000 in refunds due the students.
Michael Muoghalu , 61, of Pittsburg, was charged in U.S. District Court in Wichita with one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering. His scheme to take money from the students is alleged to have begun in 2006.
The Nigerian graduate exchange students were required to pay a deposit for tuition and fees upon being accepted into the program, prosecutors said. They were to receive partial refunds of those payments upon completing their enrollment. Muoghalu is accused of convincing the students to pay part of their refunds to him for acting as an agent in obtaining the refunds. He also is alleged to have filed fraudulent papers with the university to secure the release of the partial refunds.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years and a fine up to $250,000 on the wire fraud count, and a maximum penalty of 20 years and a fine up to $500,000 on the money laundering count.
Muoghalu was suspended in June and resigned Sept. 15.
It wasn't immediately clear if Muoghalu has an attorney.
source: wbiw
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