WSU professor charged with $8M in research fraud

seattletimes.com ^ | February 27, 2016 | Katherine Long

[Berlin_Freeper]

The Wens received about 30 grants from federal agencies, including the National Science Foundation and Department of Energy, that were to be used for the development of asphalt-composition technologies, according to the statement.

The money was allegedly deposited into bank accounts controlled by the Wens in New York, “to then be distributed for the defendants’ personal use, and not the technology development represented in their grant applications,” the statement said.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

He probably did less damage this way.

[DoughtyOne]

Folks, if you're reading this, you know what needs to happen.
It doesn't take a big contribution. Pick your comfort level and
please join others to help put the FReepathon to rest. Thank you.

The above note was first presented to you on 02/25 at around 11:00.
The goal shortfall at that time is depicted to you on the left.
The graphic on the right reveals our status as of 02/26 22:30.
We can finish this by Sunday night. Let's do it.

Let's give Jim, his crew, and us a full month to rest up.

Jim, his crew, and every other FReeper thanks you.

[stocksthatgoup]

As a climatologist you can earn even more! lol

[apocalypto]

Last year there was a similar case at a university in Iowa involving a foreign national, maybe from China.

[PROCON]

What a pity, all that money could have gone to “solving” global warming.

[Cowboy Bob]

But he had good intentions!

[Twotone]

How can this happen?! I worked at a university. All grant monies were brought in to the university via the Research Accounting Office & dispersed by the university. There’s no way any funds could be received by the individual researcher or deposited anywhere else. WSU has a lot of explaining to do.

[chopperman]

His mistake was not claiming the project was undermined because of global warming. They wouldn’t touch him then.

[PIF]

From the article: They are accused of fabricating letters of support and investment, providing false information in research-grant proposals and reports, and providing falsified reports and emails regarding how federal research funds were spent, according to a statement released earlier this week.

The money was allegedly deposited into bank accounts controlled by the Wens in New York, “to then be distributed for the defendants’ personal use, and not the technology development represented in their grant applications,” the statement said.

The charges carry a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

How can this happen?!

Phony invoices.
Non existent research assistants
Payments to shell companies
Collusion with auditors
Lax financial controls
Shenanigans
Low dealing
Avarice
Cupidity
Incompetence.

[ClearCase_guy]

It will be hard to claim an “Oops! It was an accident.”

[CommerceComet]

How can this happen?! I worked at a university. All grant monies were brought in to the university via the Research Accounting Office & dispersed by the university. There’s no way any funds could be received by the individual researcher or deposited anywhere else. WSU has a lot of explaining to do.

I'm guessing what he did was to create false billing invoices for what appeared to be project-related items so that Wazzu distributed grant funds to shell companies controlled by the professor. Conceptually, the fraud is pretty easy to do and not all that difficult to detect unless it is a pretty sophisticated scheme, so the professor hoped or knew that the Research Department was lax in its policies. Yes, some administrative types are going to be in a lot of trouble.

[Liz]

The Wens are accused of (1) fabricating letters of support and investment, (2) providing false information in research-grant proposals and reports, and, (3) providing falsified reports and emails regarding how federal research funds were spent ....... The money was allegedly deposited into NY bank accounts controlled by the Wens, “then distributed for their personal use....not toward technology development represented in their grant applications,” the statement said.

Must have friends in Congress who showed them the ropes....sounds like the MO the govt uses to steal from taxpayers.

First they line-item the funds in the budget to some so-called needy non-profit, tax-exempt group (a phony front). Then they cut and paste and mfg all the documents needed.....to keep the tax dollars rolling in.....in perpetuity.

[fella]

So one has been caught how many thousands of others are living it up without a worry?

[Rashputin]

But, it's not fraud, fraud, it's academic fraud.

[mvonfr]

How can this happen?! I worked at a university. All grant monies were brought in to the university via the Research Accounting Office & dispersed by the university....

Oh, anything can be done if you put your mind to it.

One of my ex-colleagues successfully redirected NIH money into his gender-reassignment surgery and got caught only when he (oops, "she") tried to arrange the same for a research assistant.

[Trailerpark Badass]

I would hope we’d got asphalt pretty figured out by now.

[Chad N. Freud]

Let’s try this headline on for size:

“WSU professor charged with receiving $7M to pay to Democrat causes for $1M Fee.”

[blueunicorn6]

Nobody robs banks anymore.

The crooks go where the money is.

This guy at the university.

Those two women at the VA.