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Keisha Pope was the Director of Financial Aid at J. Sargent Reynolds Community School for over 10 years
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — A former Richmond group faculty director has been charged with thieving pupil economic help resources through her far more-than-10 year tenure in the posture at the college.
The Division of Justice reports that 47-calendar year-previous Keisha Pope was the Director of Monetary Aid at J. Sargent Reynolds Group Faculty (JSRCC), a public group school serving the greater Richmond location, for around 10 yrs, from about 2006 by way of 2017.
An indictment alleges that through six decades of her employment, from 2011 to 2017, Pope falsely procured economical aid for co-conspirators, together with her son, ex-fiancé, goddaughter and cousin.
J. Sargent Reynolds Community University Director of Communications and Unique Assistant to the President, Joe Shilling gave 8Information a assertion declaring that the group school has thoroughly cooperated with regulation enforcement companies in the investigation. The college or university also mentioned that employees customers associated in the alleged crime are no lengthier utilized, and new leadership inside of the economical support office is in position.
Management of the Reynolds Monetary Assist Workplace, as well faculty leaders accountable for its oversight through the timeframe referenced, are no more time used at Reynolds. New management of the monetary help place of work has been in spot since March of 2018 and has labored diligently to ensure the integrity of all facets of our fiscal help functions. Reynolds is in whole compliance with the U.S. Department of Education and learning to take part in the administration of federal money help.”
Joe Schilling, Director of Communications & Unique Assistant to the President
The Crime
Pope allegedly greater the monetary support eligibility for her co-conspirators, who were normally ineligible for aid advantages at JSRCC, and in return had an agreement with the events included where by she would acquire a portion of the money as compensation. In accordance to the indictment, Pope allegedly expended her portion of the improperly attained pupil financial support money on several individual bills, like repairs for her vehicle, retail purchasing, and expenditures for her daughter, who is a insignificant.
To conceal her tracks Pope is explained to have falsified supporting documents justifying the money assist allotment. In just one instance, Pope allegedly forged clinical paperwork and money aid files reflecting that her goddaughter was failing to fulfill academic eligibility owing to a breast most cancers analysis, regardless of knowing that her goddaughter experienced no cancer prognosis.
Pope also allegedly attained financial aid for her ex-fiancé, from close to 2010 via about 2015, even though he was incarcerated, and not attending the college.
The indictment alleges that when JSRCC management confronted Pope around September or October of 2017 about her romance with the aforementioned academically ineligible pupils who ended up receiving superior amounts of fiscal help, Pope claimed to not know the learners, and claimed that all students experienced documentation justifying getting the ongoing economic help. When questioned to make said documentation, Pope resigned from JSRCC.
The Prices
In accordance to The Section of Justice and United States Lawyer, Jessica D. Aber, Pope has been billed with conspiring to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identification theft. Pope faces a maximum of 20 years in prison if she is convicted of any of the fraud offences, and faces an additional obligatory two-several years in prison if convicted of aggravated identity theft.
The Department of Justice said that actual sentence instances for federal crimes are usually less than the utmost penalty.
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