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Subscribe to RSSFour men were convicted Tuesday in what authorities described as a computer-savvy scheme to steal almost $6 million from Columbia University by tampering with its bill-payment system, the Associated Press reported.
George Castro, Jeremy Dieudonne, Joseph Pineras and Walter Stephens Jr. stood stolidly as jurors delivered their verdict. Each man faces at least one to three years in prison at a sentencing set for Sept. 24.
The Manhattan district attorney's office said the scam entailed manipulating Columbia's vendor-payment system to siphon off money that was meant for a hospital. The defense, meanwhile, said the men didn't realize money was being stolen.
According to prosecutors, the money was diverted into a bank account held by Castro's information technology business, and some cash later went into accounts held by Dieudonne and Stephens.
Pineras worked in Columbia's finance department. Prosecutors say he got about $10,000 for aiding the scheme.
New York police started investigating in November when a university official reported that the accounts payable system had been tampered with to change account information for New York-Presbyterian Hospital, the Eagle-Tribune reported. New York-Presbyterian is a teaching hospital affiliated with Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons and Weill Cornell Medical College.
Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Kim Han said the men teamed up to bilk Columbia to solve their own financial problems.
Castro bought himself an $80,000 Audi and was arrested carrying $200,000 in cash, prosecutors said. He told a police officer the money "just appeared in my account," authorities said in a court document. During the trial, Castro said he thought the money was coming from investors Dieudonne had lined up.
"He has no sense, at all, that the money is stolen," his lawyer, Michele Hauser, told jurors Friday.
Dieudonne, who represented himself, said he was "just doing business, perfectly legal business — nothing crooked."
The 46-year-old Haitian was living under an assumed identity of Hector Santiago when he was arrested on Friday, according to the Eagle-Tribune.
The defense also pointed fingers at another defendant, Moise Jean-Paul, who wasn't on trial and testified against the others. Jean-Paul has pleaded not guilty. He worked with Pineras in Columbia's finance department.
The defense said Jean-Paul lied to prosecutors to incriminate the others and help himself.
"He is a thief, and he is a liar," said Pineras' lawyer, Robert Anesi.
He and Castro declined to comment as Castro left court on $5,000 bond, his pregnant wife in tears. The other men are jailed; their lawyers declined to comment.
Jean-Paul's lawyer hasn't returned calls seeking comment during the trial.
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I hope they have to pay all the money back with interest as well.
I agree, rick. I think robbing a hospital is about as low as you can stoop. Hospitals loose a lot of money as it is caring for people without health-care insurance in their emergency rooms without being deliberately robbed.
... and yet nobody from Wall St has ever been charged.
$6 million -- and one year sentences possible? Not a bad pay day if they have stashed some of the money.
You got that right zauzaus.....seems that something is wrong there.
Man, I got cookies in my hand, but I haven't been in the jar !!!
I worry if I speed much.These guys,millions,eh no big deal
A whole new generation of Bernanke 'proteges'.
A vote for a Democrat or Republican, is a vote for legalized crime!
Some hospitals lose money while some just plain RIP YOU OFF!
Where are Obama's records? Why is he desperate to conceal them? If Romnry shows his old tax returns, will Barry show his Columbia records? What does he have to hide?
Apparently, no one remembers him.
What does your comment have to do with these thieves stealing from the college
Procrustes-2100316
Obama nor Romney are the problem.....people who think like you ARE the problem with America today...
your post exemplifies the problem clearly...
1. Off topic (diversion)
2. Uninformed (uneducated)
3. Inflammatory (hatred)
4. Pointing blame instead of owning it (time to man up)
5. Partisan Rhetoric (united we stand, divided we fall)
I could keep listing but I think everyone gets my point.
Yes, $280K just magically appears in your checking account; "Surprise!"
His lawyer's statement was partially factual: "He has no sense, at all!!"
They turn on each other like junkyard rats. I sincerely hope their assets were attached to recoup what they stole.