A former director of financial aid and two students at Teachers College in New York were sentenced to prison for their roles in a bribery and kickback scheme that spanned several years and netted over $2 million in illicit funds.
Melanie Williams-Bethea, 49, the former director of financial aid at Teachers College, was sentenced to 40 months in prison for her role in the scheme. She had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery on October 17, 2018.
Two former students, Mawuli Hormeku, 39, and Carmen Canty, 40, were also sentenced to prison for their roles in the scheme. Hormeku was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison, while Canty was sentenced to 3 months in prison.
The scheme, which ran from 2008 to 2017, involved Williams-Bethea approving excessive financial aid payments to the students, who then paid her kickbacks. The students, including Hormeku, Canty, Annice Kpana, and Kyla Thomas, collectively paid Williams-Bethea nearly $1 million in kickbacks.
Williams-Bethea was ordered to pay restitution and forfeiture in the amount of $2,067,349. Hormeku was ordered to pay restitution and forfeiture in the amount of $620,010, while Canty was ordered to pay restitution and forfeiture in the amount of $166,105.
U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman praised the investigative work of the Department of Education, Office of the Inspector General in this investigation.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Public Corruption Unit, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas McKay and Alex Rossmiller in charge of the prosecution.
The defendants’ prison sentences reflect the significant harm caused by their conduct, according to Berman.
Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Public Corruption
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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