Former Western Kentucky University Professor Pleads Guilty to Federal Program Fraud
| U.S. Attorney’s Office February 09, 2009 |
BOWLING GREEN, KY—Candace Hill, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky announced today that on February 9, 2009, the Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky filed an Information charging Katrina Phelps, of Bowling Green, Kentucky, with 1 count of federal program fraud. These charges allege that she intentionally misapplied funds from her employer, Western Kentucky University. Also filed with the Information was a signed Plea Agreement in which she admitted to intentionally misapplying $27,087.20 from Western Kentucky University.
In the Plea Agreement,
Phelps admits that, from March 2005 through December 2007, she intentionally
misapplied $27,087.20. She did this be causing 16 checks from a Department
of Justice Grant received by Western Kentucky University to be issued
to individuals that were not entitled to the checks. She then took the
proceeds from these checks and intentionally misapplied them. As part
of the Plea Agreement, Phelps agreed to pay full restitution to Western
Kentucky University prior to sentencing.
The maximum potential penalties for this offense are 10 years imprisonment,
a $250,000 fine, an supervised release for a period of up to 3 years.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Bryan Calhoun, and it was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.