Ex-Columbia Teachers' Grad School Financial Aid Director Gets 40 Months in Aid Kickback Scheme
Melanie Williams-Bethea pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery in October 2018 after prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York charged her and a number of co-defendants in January 2018 with a $2 million bribe and kickback scheme.
April 09, 2019 at 07:14 PM
3 minute read
Columbia University's Low Memorial Library. Photo: AlMare via Wikipedia
A former director of financial aid at Columbia University's Teachers College was sentenced to 40 months in federal prison Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Alison Nathan of the Southern District of New York.
Melanie Williams-Bethea pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery in October 2018 after prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York charged her and a number of co-defendants in January 2018 with a $2 million bribe and kickback scheme.
“These defendants exploited and stole from an institution of higher learning, taking money that was intended to help provide opportunities for individuals training to teach future generations,” U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman said in a statement.
According to prosecutors, Williams-Bethea approved excessive cost of attendance figures for a number of students that attended Columbia's teaching school over the course of a decade. The higher-than-needed figures exceeded what the students were eligible to receive, which led to stipends being a release for inflated amounts.
Prosecutors accused Williams-Bethea of forging stipend request forms for financial awards, giving the false impression that professors or other college administrators had requested these stipends. Williams-Bethea would then approve the stipend requests, sending the funds to the students.
The students would then take a portion of the excess funds, while turning around and sending a portion back to Williams-Bethea. All told, the prosecutors said the former financial director took in nearly $1 million kickbacks as part of the scheme.
Federal Defenders of New York attorney Julia Gatto, Williams-Bethea's appointed counsel, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
On top of her 40 month sentence, Williams-Bethea was ordered to pay more than $2 million in restitution. Her other co-defendants—both former students—were also sentenced. Mawuli Hormeku, who received nearly $12,000 in a stipend secured through forged documents, was sentenced to a year-and-a-day. Prior to his legal troubles, Hormeku ran unsuccessfully for a Brooklyn seat on the New York City Council on the Reform Party line in 2017.
The other student, Carmen Canty, received $10,000 under the same circumstances and received three months. Two other students have pleaded guilty and are scheduled to be sentenced later this month.
Related:
Suspended Student Fails at Challenges to Columbia University Disciplinary Process
College Basketball Coaches, Sportswear Execs Charged in Bribery Case
In Through the 'Side Door': Wiretap Outlines Willkie Leader's Alleged Role in Admissions Scandal
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