Federal authorities given case of possible misappropriation of funds at MU
The MU News Bureau announced on Thursday that the University of Missouri Police Department has handed off the investigation into the possible misappropriation of funds at MU to federal authorities.
“The former employee’s actions might have violated federal laws,” said the MU News Bureau. “University officials will continue to review policies and procedures related to the oversight and management of external accounts.”
ABC 17 News reported in July that spokeswoman Liz McCune said the alleged misappropriations came from student organization accounts associated with Greek Life.
The accounts are thought to be external to the school. McCune said these accounts are owned by the student organizations through private banks, but some school employees are given “signatory authority” to spend money from those accounts.
MUPD spokesman Major Brian Weimer did not say why the department forwarded the case to federal authorities. Weimer said MUPD would assist those investigators if requested.
A case gets forwarded to the federal level after discussions between state and federal prosecuting offices, said Bill Tackett, a former Cole County prosecutor and criminal defense attorney. The decision to send it to the higher level is often dictated by the suspected crime, and the level of punishment. If federal crimes offer tougher sentences, then that case will often get sent to federal prosecutors, Tackett said.
“If it’s complex, if it’s high profile and the federal prosecutor calls the local prosecutor, then they can agree that this needs to be a federal prosecution,” Tackett told ABC 17 News
Those higher offices also have entire divisions dedicated to crimes like fraud and embezzlement. The police and prosecutor’s available resources often play a part in the decision.
“You have to draw a line from the crime all the way back to the person in terms of paper,” Tackett said. “It’s a paper trail, and that takes time.”
McCune said that employees in the Office of Greek Life noticed the possible misuse of money in mid-July. A follow-up audit showed that the misuse might have been criminal, sparking a police investigation on July 25.
Greek Life was one of several offices that underwent an administrative shake up this summer. MU announced several cuts to the department due to the lower budget this fiscal year, including the elimination of seven administrative positions.
