Machli Joseph Cops Heat for $600K College Heist

Machli Joseph, the former head coach of Baruch College’s women’s basketball team and associate athletic director, has been arrested and charged with embezzling approximately $600,000 in rental payments meant for the public college. Federal prosecutors say Joseph, who held key administrative control over Baruch’s athletic facilities, ran a years-long scheme from 2010 to 2016, diverting payments from outside renters into accounts he personally controlled — all while the college saw none of the revenue.

Joseph, arrested this morning by agents from the U.S. Department of Education Office of Inspector General (ED-OIG) in New Jersey, is set to appear before Magistrate Judge Gabriel Gorenstein in Manhattan federal court. The charges stem from a complaint filed in the Southern District of New York, which alleges Joseph abused his authority by funneling rental payments — intended for the City University of New York (CUNY) institution — to fake or unrelated entities that bore names resembling official Baruch College affiliates.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Joseph served in multiple roles at Baruch between 2002 and 2016, including men’s and women’s basketball coach, assistant athletic director, and ultimately associate athletic director. In that time, he had sole authority over scheduling and collecting payments for the use of the college gym when not in use by student teams. Instead of forwarding payments to the school, Joseph allegedly directed renters to pay him directly or into shell entities he controlled.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara didn’t mince words: “Machli Joseph, Baruch College’s former basketball coach, allegedly drew up his own game plan for fraud, stealing more than half a million dollars meant for the college that he instead spent on himself. Embezzling money from a public college is no game, and for allegedly taking criminal advantage of his control over Baruch’s basketball courts, Joseph will now face federal charges in a court of law.”

New York State Inspector General Catherine Leahy Scott tied the case to broader accountability failures within CUNY, stating the alleged theft “was clearly a symptom of problematic policies and oversight throughout CUNY facilities.” She confirmed her office is already probing systemic vulnerabilities. ED-OIG Special Agent-in-Charge Brian M. Hickey added: “Mr. Joseph knowingly abused his position of trust to steal funds from the very ones he promised to serve — Baruch College students. That is unacceptable.”

Investigators say the stolen funds were used for Joseph’s personal benefit, including major renovations to his home in New Jersey. The complaint lays bare a calculated misuse of public resources, with Joseph allegedly collecting checks and wire transfers under false pretenses. As federal authorities continue to dismantle the financial trail, Joseph now faces serious federal embezzlement charges — a far cry from the institution he once helped lead.