Staff Report
UNM police detectives are investigating a report filed by the director of the University Internal Audit Department alleging that a former School of Public Administration official misused more than $7,500 in UNM funds for personal expenditures.
The police report, filed Sept. 16, 2002, states that the administrator allegedly used University funds for a variety of personal purposes including using $4,760 to secure a private parking space for himself and an administrative assistant and $387.07 to pay for a rental car to use while his personal vehicle was being repaired.
Susan Mullins, director of UNM Internal Audit, said she could not comment on ongoing investigations within her department.
According to the police report, the alleged infractions occurred between July 1, 1998 and June 1, 2001.
The police report also states that the former administrator may have misused University funds to pay for $435 in tuition costs for the administrative assistant, $1,662.53 for photographic and video recording equipment used primarily for personal purposes, $63.93 used for personal supplies and $209 for tuition at UNM Continuing Education before tuition remission became available.
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Tuition remission allows University employees to take classes at UNM, TVI or through Continuing Education. According to the Bursar’s Office, employees may not use tuition remission if they are not officially employed by the University prior to the first day of class or enrolling in classes before the employee’s official starting date.
UNM Police Department Cmdr. James Daniels said he could not comment on any case currently under investigation by his department’s detectives.
Clovis Acosta, director of UNM Parking and Transportation Services, said he could not provide any information about the purchase of personalized parking by any UNM administrators.
The police report officially lists fraud as the offense under investigation. According to the New Mexico Criminal Law and Traffic Law Manual, a fraud that amounts to a total between $2,500 and $20,000 is considered a third-degree felony.
Daniels was not able to comment on why the police report was filed Sept. 16, 2002 but was not assigned to the detectives division of UNMPD until Jan. 14, 2003.
