Tag Archives: U of Louisville

U of L watches closely as Grawemeyer Award winner’s book is challenged

Courier-Journal: U of L watches closely as Grawemeyer Award winner’s book is challenged

U of L announced last week that it was presenting the award to author Greg Mortenson, just days before the CBS news show aired a segment saying two of his books — “Three Cups of Tea” and “Stones into Schools: Promoting Peace with Books, not Bombs, in Afghanistan and Pakistan” — contained inaccuracies and fabrications.

“The Grawemeyer Awards program has taken author Greg Mortenson at his word, as have millions of readers around the world. Given the impact of his work, we hope these early reports are unfounded but we will be closely watching this situation as it unfolds,” Allan Dittmer, executive director of U of L’s Grawemeyer Awards, said Monday in a statement.

U. of Louisville’s Grawemeyer Program Awaits Outcome of Allegations Against Prize Winner

The Chronicle: U. of Louisville’s Grawemeyer Program Awaits Outcome of Allegations Against Prize Winner

The University of Louisville’s Grawemeyer Awards program is monitoring developments regarding allegations against Greg Mortenson, an author and philanthropist who was recently named the winner of the program’s education prize, The Courier-Journal reported. The CBS program 60 Minutes has alleged that two books Mr. Mortenson wrote about his efforts to found schools for girls in Afghanistan and Pakistan, Three Cups of Tea and Stones Into Schools, contain inaccuracies and that some of the schools he claims to have founded do not exist. Allan Dittmer, executive director of Grawemeyer Awards, said officials hoped the reports were unfounded and had made no decision about whether to go ahead with the award or rescind it. “At this stage of the game, it is hard to know where this is all going to end up,” he said. The Courier-Journal reported Mr. Mortenson’s selection as the winner last week. The awards program’s Web site states only that an “announcement is pending.”

Aide says convicted U of Louisville dean had money funneled to Illinois center

Courier-Journal: Aide says Felner had money funneled to Illinois center

The executive assistant to former University of Louisville education dean Robert Felner testified Monday that Felner stood over her shoulder and dictated information for her to type on invoices meant to funnel money from the university to an Illinois center set up by a longtime associate.

Becki Newton told a U.S. District Court jury that she recalled seeing the associate, Thomas Schroeder of Port Byron, Ill., at U of L’s College of Education and Human Development several times a year.

Former University of Louisville dean Robert Felner sentenced to more than five years in prison

The Chronicle: Former U. of Louisville Dean Is Sentenced to More Than 5 Years

Robert D. Felner, the former dean of the University of Louisville’s College of Education and Human Development, was sentenced on Monday to five and a quarter years in federal prison.

Mr. Felner was indicted in October 2008 on charges that he and a confederate had misappropriated more than $2.3-million from a federal research grant and from contracts with three urban school districts.

The indictment prompted a long round of soul-searching at Louisville. Some faculty members say that the university could have detected Mr. Felner’s wrongdoing earlier if administrators had paid attention to faculty and student complaints about his conduct. Others have suggested that the university did a weak job of checking Mr. Felner’s background when he was hired in 2003.

Courier-Journal: Former University of Louisville dean Robert Felner sentenced to more than five years in prison

Robert Felner, former University of Louisville dean of education, was sentenced on Monday to 63 months in prison for his role in defrauding U of L and the University of Rhode Island of $2.3 million.

Felner — who was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Charles R. Simpson III in Louisville — pleaded guilty in January to nine federal charges, including income tax evasion.

In addition to prison time, Felner must pay restitution of $510,000 to U of L, $1.64 million to the University of Rhode Island and $88,750 to the Rock Island County Council on Addiction in Illinois.

The plea agreement was reached with the U.S. attorney’s office after Felner was indicted in October 2008 in Louisville on charges of mail fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, income tax evasion and conspiracy to impede and impair the Internal Revenue Service. The charges against Felner carried a maximum penalty of 75 years in prison.

Former UofL dean sentenced to 63 months in prison for tax evasion, embezzling

WHAS: Former UofL dean sentenced to 63 months in prison for tax evasion, embezzling

Louisville, Ky. (WHAS11) – The former University of Louisville dean of the College of Education has been sentenced to over five years in prison.

Robert Felner pled guilty to federal charges including tax evasion and embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars from the university.

He was sentenced to 63 months in prison and will have to pay back $2,245,000 in restitution.

He will have to pay money back to UofL, the University of Rhode Island and Rock Island Council of Addiction.

After he serves his sentence he will serve three years on probation.

Former University of Louisville dean Robert Felner set to be sentenced Monday

Courier-Journal: Former University of Louisville dean Robert Felner set to be sentenced Monday

Robert Felner, former University of Louisville dean of education, is expected to be sentenced on Monday, almost two years after federal and local law enforcement authorities raided his college as part of a wide-ranging fraud investigation that involved two universities and multiple states.

Felner pleaded guilty in January to nine federal charges, including income tax evasion, and agreed to serve 63 months in prison in connection with defrauding UofL and the University of Rhode Island of $2.3million.

As part of the plea agreement, Felner agreed to pay restitution of $510,000 to UofL, $1.64million to the University of Rhode Island and $88,750 to the Rock Island County Council on Addiction in Illinois. Additionally, he agreed to forfeit property to the federal government that he owns in Florida and Illinois, as well as bank accounts containing undisclosed amounts.

Former U of L dean Robert Felner agrees to plead guilty to fraud, tax evasion—Will serve 63 months in prison; pay $2 million restitution; forfeit real property to feds

Courier-Journal: Former U of L dean agrees to plead guilty to fraud, tax evasion

Former University of Louisville Education Dean Robert Felner agreed Friday to plead guilty to nine federal charges, including income tax evasion, and to serve 63 months in prison in connection with defrauding U of L and another college out of $2.3 million.

He also agreed to pay restitution of $510,000 to U of L and $1.64 million to the University of Rhode Island as well as to the forfeiture to the federal government of real property he owned in Florida and in Illinois as well as bank accounts of undisclosed value.

U.S. District Judge Charles Simpson III said he will review the plea agreement before deciding whether to accept it. He also held out the possibility of imposing additional fines of up to $2.25 million on Felner.

Robert Felner to plead guilty to siphoning millions from Louisville, Rhode Island universities

Courier-Journal: Attorney: Robert Felner to plead guilty to siphoning millions from Louisville, Rhode Island universities

Former University of Louisville education dean Robert Felner will plead guilty Friday in a case in which he and a colleague are accused of defrauding U of L and another university out of $2.3 million, his attorney said.

Attorney Scott C. Cox said Monday the plea is part of an agreement Felner made with the U.S. Attorney’s Office. He would not disclose any terms of the deal, including which charges Felner would plead guilty to or how much jail time he may receive. Felner was not available for comment.

While not part of the criminal case, Felner’s treatment of faculty and staff at U of L’s College of Education and Human Development — and grievances against him — came to light during the investigation. Former faculty accused Felner of being vindictive, manipulative and threatening. As a result of those claims, the university revamped its grievance process, reviewed its faculty governance procedures and established an Ombuds Office to address faculty concerns and complaints.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Monday that it would have no comment until Felner formally enters his plea — he is accused of funneling millions of dollars through non-profit centers he helped create, then using the money to buy private property and make other personal expenditures.

Judge sets Feb. 1 trial for former U of L dean: Robert Felner faces fraud, tax evasion, money laundering charges

Courier-Journal: Judge sets Feb. 1 trial for former U of L dean
Felner faces fraud, tax evasion,money laundering charges

A trial date has been set for former University of Louisville education dean Robert Felner, who was indicted last year on 10 counts of mail fraud, money-laundering conspiracy and income tax evasion.

The trial is scheduled to begin Feb. 1, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan Calhoun said it will take about three weeks.

Felner’s colleague, Thomas Schroeder of Port Byron, Ill., who is charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering, mail fraud and conspiracy to defraud the Internal Revenue Service, will be tried at the same time

University of Louisville Foundation makes secret $1.9 million payment to U of L president

Herald-Leader: Ramsey’s $1.9 million

University of Louisville officials should provide a better explanation of the $1.9 million paid to President James R. Ramsey in 2007.

The payment might never have come to light if Herald-Leader reporter Ryan Alessi hadn’t stumbled across it while reviewing IRS filings by the University of Louisville Foundation.

C-J Still Ignoring UofL Leadership Failures

chroniclefront

PageOneKentucky.com: C-J Still Ignoring UofL Leadership Failures

Yesterday we shared three lengthy articles from The Chronicle of Higher Education that essentially served as an indictment of the University of Louisville’s leadership team. The stories detailed the long nightmare of the Robert Felner scandal and the embarrassing lack of action and willful ignorance on the part of UofL’s head honchos.

Keeping an Eye on Earmarks: the Education Department’s Role in Oversight

The Chronicle: Keeping an Eye on Earmarks: the Education Department’s Role in Oversight

The University of Louisville’s former dean of education, Robert D. Felner, faces a criminal trial on charges that he and an associate diverted most of a $694,000 earmarked federal grant into their own bank accounts. Louisville officials have announced an administrative overhaul that will, they say, help prevent any future misbehavior with grants.

But what about the U.S. Department of Education, which was responsible for overseeing the grant on taxpayers’ behalf? Should it, too, be doing some soul-searching in the aftermath of Mr. Felner’s indictment?

In Researcher’s Background, Some Warning Signs

The Chronicle: In Researcher’s Background, Some Warning Signs

When Robert D. Felner applied to become dean of education at the University of Louisville in 2003, he carried a genuinely impressive vita. But two of the most recent large grants listed on that vita could not have survived close scrutiny — and it isn’t clear that Louisville’s search committee scrutinized them at all.

Education Dean’s Fraud Case Teaches U. of Louisville a Hard Lesson

The Chronicle: Education Dean’s Fraud Case Teaches U. of Louisville a Hard Lesson

The former official now awaits trial. Some colleagues say the university should have caught him earlier.
Related materials

At the end of 2005, Robert D. Felner was riding high. A well-paid dean at the University of Louisville, he had just secured a $694,000 earmarked grant from the U.S. Department of Education to create an elaborate research center to help Kentucky’s public schools.

The motion to suppress statements made by Robert Felner has been denied by U.S. District Court

PageOneKentucky.com: Some Robert Felner Scandal Tidbits

The motion to suppress statements made by Robert Felner has been denied by U.S. District Court Judge Charles R. Simpson III. Click here (Warning: PDF Link) for that.

And click here (Warning: PDF Link) for the judge’s memorandum opinion of whether or not he was subject to custodial interrogation.