In 2017, a former professor at Drexel University was found to have spent thousands of dollars of federal grant money for strip clubs and bars, according to multiple reports.
CBS Philadelphia reported that Chikaodinaka D. Nwankpa, the former university professor, had used $189,062 worth of federal grants from the Navy, Department of Energy, and the National Science Foundation over the course of 10 years, going back to 2007.
Drexel University had agreed to pay the full amount the former professor had misappropriated in order to a civil liability case, according to the news outlet.
During an internal audit of all the funds, the university discovered the misappropriation of funds on Nwankpa’s part and immediately alerted the authorities, according to the news outlet. It was discovered that Nwankpa had submitted false charges for items such as iTunes purchases and for “goods and services” from night clubs.
“The government’s investigation began in 2017 after Drexel voluntarily disclosed the improper charges to eight federal grants for energy and naval technology related research that it received from the Department of the Navy, the Department of Energy, and the National Science Foundation,” a news release issued by the U.S. Attorney’s Office from Department of Justice read.
“This is an example of flagrant and audacious fraud, and a shameful misuse of public funds. The agencies providing these grant funds expect them to be used towards advancements in energy and naval technology for public benefit, not for personal entertainment,” said United States Attorney William M. McSwain, the news release read.
Although it was a shock that the former professor had misappropriate the funds for this long, McSwain said that he is glad that Drexel was taking a step in the right direction by strengthening the school’s charge approval process.
“We appreciate Drexel’s self-disclosure and cooperation in this matter. At the same time, we are disappointed that Dr. Nwankpa’s conduct went unnoticed for so long, but Drexel’s strengthening of its charge approval process is certainly a step in the right direction,” McSwain said, the news release read.
After the investigation concluded, Nwankpa was required to pay $53,328 to the university. He was also terminated from his position at Drexel, and for the next six months he was debarred from working federal contracts, according to the news release. This case was investigated by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, along with the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Inspector General, and the National Science Foundation Officer of Inspector General, the news release read.
“Fraud is never a victimless crime. In this case, the flagrant and wrongful misuse of American taxpayers’ funds not only eroded the public trust, but jeopardized the Department of Navy’s efforts to obtain the best technology and research for our brave men and women in uniform. NCIS will continue to battle fraud in all forms and tirelessly pursue all those who seek to cheat, steal, defraud, or harm the American Public and the Department of the Navy,” said Leo S. Lamont, the NCIS Northeast field Office Special Agent in Charge, according to the news release.
The former professor was not charged with any crime, according to CBS Philadelphia.
