Alabamians Indicted in Tuskegee University Embezzlement Scandal | AL News

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(Alabama)- On May 13, 2024, a grand jury in Alabama issued indictments against ten individuals for their alleged participation in embezzling funds from Tuskegee University via a federal program.

Photo byAubrey OdomonUnsplash

Alabamians involved in the scheme were:

• Wanda Tyner Hairston, 51, of Auburn.
• Lora Regina Baker, 52, of Montgomery.
• Keyonn Dalarrion Cannon, 26, of Tuskegee.
• Lanequia Shanice Cooper, 29, of Auburn.
• Ledaryl Tremayne Johnson, 27, of Tuskegee.
• Jeanette Moss-Smith, 50, of Auburn.
• Cassandra Harris Parker, 61, of Tuskegee.
• Phyllis Vanessa Tyner, 57, of Auburn.
• Morris Gene Welch, 57, of Auburn.
• Abraham Torbert Wright, Jr., 23, of Tuskegee.

According to the official press release by DOJ:

Cassandra Harris Parker, Lora Regina Baker, Jeanette Moss-Smith, and Wanda Tyner Hairston were Tuskegee University employees during the time frame of the alleged conspiracy, which began at an unknown date and continued to the year 2020.

As Purchasing Manager, Parker created purchase orders indicating money was owed to co-conspirators so that checks would be issued to them. Baker worked in the Accounts Payable Department and entered the check requests into the university’s accounting system, causing the checks to be issued. Moss-Smith signed the check request forms, and Hairston assigned grant codes to the forms confirming sufficient funds existed to cover the checks. Once issued, Parker delivered the checks to the co-conspirators.

The indictment alleges that Cannon, Cooper, Johnson, Tyner, Welch, and Wright, Jr., each cashed checks provided to them as part of the scheme.

In addition to the conspiracy charges, Parker, Baker, Moss-Smith, and Hairston are also charged with theft concerning programs receiving federal funds, which could lead to up to five years in prison.

They also face up to ten years in prison for theft involving programs receiving federal funds and trials are scheduled for August 12, 2024.

Under Alabama's law, everyone is innocent until proven guilty.

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