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Former Columbia University Official Sentenced to 15
Months in Prison for Stealing Thousands of Dollars
from the University; $180,000 Forfeiture Order Entered
GUY PETRILLO, the Acting United States Attorney for the
Southern District of New York for purposes of the case described
in this release, announced that JOHN BZDIL, III, who worked as
the Manager of the Pediatric Neurosciences Department of the
Neurological Institute at Columbia University, was sentenced
today by United States District Judge SIDNEY H. STEIN to 15
months in prison for defrauding Columbia of more than $180,000.
According to the documents filed in Court and
statements made during Court proceedings:
From approximately June 2005 to approximately June
2008, BZDIL used his position to engage in a scheme to defraud by
causing Columbia to make reimbursement payments for phony
expenses and purchases purportedly attributable to the Pediatric
Neurosciences Department.
On multiple occasions, BZDIL submitted reimbursement
requests to Columbia for spinal muscular atrophy studies
purportedly performed by a medical professional affiliated with
Columbia. In fact, the studies were never performed. BZDIL
nevertheless authorized Columbia to make payment on the
reimbursement requests, and diverted the money to accounts he
controlled. In this manner, BZDIL stole more than $112,500.
In addition, BZDIL submitted reimbursement requests for
various items purchased from Amazon.com for his personal use,
falsely representing that they were goods and services related to
his employment at Columbia. As a result, Columbia was deceived
into making payments of more than $40,000.
BZDIL also submitted reimbursement requests for
expenses incurred at the Skytop Lodge, in Skytop, Pennsylvania,
in connection with his wedding. These expenses totaled over
$25,000 and were also paid by Columbia based on misrepresentation
by BZDIL that they constituted legitimate expenses.
In addition to the prison term, Judge STEIN sentenced
BZDIL to two years' supervised release and entered an order of
forfeiture against BZDIL in the amount of $180,000.
BZDIL, 35, of Allentown, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty
in March 2009, to a one count Information charging him with wire
fraud.
Mr. PETRILLO praised the investigative work of the
Federal Bureau of Investigation in this case.
This prosecution is being handled by the Major Crimes
Unit of the United States Attorney's Office. Assistant United
States Attorney JULIAN J. MOORE is in charge of the prosecution.
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