Experience
Client: U.S. Department of Education – Office of Inspector General
Focus Area: Forensic Accounting | Internal Investigations | Higher Education Fraud
Overview:
A university faced allegations of internal financial misconduct related to its purchasing card (P-Card) program. The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Inspector General engaged us to conduct a forensic investigation into the matter.
Our Approach:
- Conducted forensic accounting and digital analysis to trace spending patterns and flag anomalies.
- Evaluated P-Card activity for misuse, policy violations, and control weaknesses.
- Assessed internal oversight procedures that failed to detect fraudulent behavior over time.
Key Findings:
- Identified a long-running embezzlement scheme totaling over $1.3 million.
- Uncovered systemic control failures that enabled the misconduct to continue undetected.
- Provided detailed evidence linking specific transactions to individuals involved.
Outcome:
Our findings were instrumental in securing multiple guilty pleas. Two individuals were sentenced to federal prison, while a third received probation with electronic monitoring due to significant cooperation with authorities. The case highlights the importance of strong internal controls in higher education finance.
