Sometimes you just don’t need to embellish a story. The former Education Dean of the University of Louisville pleaded guilty last Friday to nine charges of embezzlement and tax fraud. Robert Felner embezzled $1.7 million from the University of Rhode Island, and followed that up by embezzling $570,000 from the University of Louisville. He tried to embezzle another $270,000 from Louisville, too. He did manage to pilfer $88,000 from the Rock Island, Illinois County Counsel on Addiction.
Adding to his problems, he forgot to pay $490,000 to the IRS. Scott Cox, Mr. Felner’s attorney, noted, “They had a very strong tax case against him.”
Mark Hebert, a spokesman for the University of Louisville, told the Associated Press, “I don’t think there are a whole lot of tears being shed on the University of Louisville campus today. He blew it.”
Mr. Felner’s plea bargain calls for him to serve 63 months at ClubFed, and make restitution of $2.2 million to the Universities and County Counsel.