Former Yale administrator stole $40 million, pretending to buy computer equipment for the university.

J

Jeni

Senior Member
A former administrator at the Yale University School of Medicine has pleaded guilty to stealing $40 million from the school in a nearly decade-long computer and electronics purchasing fraud.
Federal prosecutors say Jamie Petrone, 42, used the money to buy a fleet of luxury cars including Mercedes, Land Rovers and Cadillac Escalades, numerous properties in several states and to pay for lavish trips.
She pleaded guilty on Monday to wire fraud and filing false tax returns and faces up to 30 years in prison when she is sentenced in June. Until then, she is free on a $1 million bond. Her attorney didn’t immediately return a message seeking comment.

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/f...rs-and-three-houses-11648578254?siteid=yhoof2
Prosecutors say that in 2021 alone, she purchased more than 8,000 tablet computers, all in orders smaller than $10,000. In one 10-week period that year, she ordered $2.1 million worth of equipment.

Hard to believe she could do this for so long if all order were under her 10k threshold and NOT get caught prior to amassing 40 million.
 

There is no end to the grift that is taking place all over the world these days. I may not have numerous properties and luxury vehicles, but I have absolutely everything I need to be happy and I can sleep soundly at night. ;) I just never understand why people like this feel the need to commit criminal acts to accumulate "stuff". Peer pressure, I suppose.
 

Silent Rose said:
Whoever handled the books for that department and for that university no longer has a job. I say this because that is my job(a bookkeeper). It is crazy how much of a discrepancy in purchases and the money given out and that was not noticed.
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exactly ... there was no accountability and oversight ..... this seems amazing large university like this did not have audits etc.

Thought with that sort of money they would have a double check system and follow up
 
My wide spent 27 years working for the University of Toronto, and her SOLE job was to audit the various departments for exactly this type of criminal behavior. She did uncover wrong doing, and her mandate was to call in the Toronto Police fraud unit , after reporting to her Manager. JimB.
 
I'm of the opinion that many of our Universities are becoming like our Health care system....where "Money" is becoming the highest priority. Every year, they graduate thousands of students with meaningless degrees....in things like Liberal Arts....which give the students an education which qualifies them for little more than working at a fast food restaurant....and leaving them with decades of Student Loans.
 
I guess that's why she had property in 3 states. She could hide the loot easier from colleagues and staff. But that raises other questions. Who or wh
 
Knight said:
The typical Yale University Program Administrator salary is $64,532 per year. Program Administrator salaries at Yale University can range from $50,555 - $69,700 per year.Feb 17, 2022

https://www.google.com/search?q=yea...57j0i546l3.23771j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

Nothing suspicious about that administrator ?

She will probably miss the vehicles but she will live in a large facility with all her needs paid for.
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I guess that's why she had property in different states. Must have been a drag traveling back to home state/work leaving her luxurious digs and cars behind
 
When I read article it said her limit of buying items was 10,000 a pop so to get to 40 million was a long process.
No one noticed that items/ computers etc were not delivered? i worked for large company.......and could see purchase orders and receiving department were often on look out for deliveries.

jimintoronto said:
My wide spent 27 years working for the University of Toronto, and her SOLE job was to audit the various departments for exactly this type of criminal behavior. She did uncover wrong doing, and her mandate was to call in the Toronto Police fraud unit , after reporting to her Manager. JimB.
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exactly most places do have some sort of oversight that would look for this.....
Prosecutors say that in 2021 alone, she purchased more than 8,000 tablet computers, all in orders smaller than $10,000. In one 10-week period that year, she ordered $2.1 million worth of equipment.

https://www.marketwatch.com/video/v...ays/4C9A906D-CC41-4904-88E5-D9084C700294.html
WhatInThe said:
I guess that's why she had property in 3 states. She could hide the loot easier from colleagues and staff. But that raises other questions.
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People like this would be sure the money train in not stopping and feel free to lets say dress more upscale...
most people with money (stolen) or not give off the vibe that they can afford it.....

I remember working at a company and security got a bonus if they could find an employee stealing.... the guy said we look at their changes in life etc as triggers... They noticed if a person was frugal and then loosened up quickly or if a life change like a divorce squeezed them etc...
 
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Substantially more money is stolen by white collar crime than anything a poor guy could do. The advantage for the former is that it's covert so generally goes undetected
 
Nosy Bee-54 said:
Substantially more money is stolen by white collar crime than anything a poor guy could do. The advantage for the former is that it's covert so generally goes undetected
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That's for sure. Recently, all this government "aid" related to Covid has resulted in the largest Fraud in the nations history. Literally 10's of billions of dollars have gone to "schemers" who have found ways to easily divert this government money.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/ju...oting-covid-relief-program-known-ppp-n1279664
 
Don M. said:
That's for sure. Recently, all this government "aid" related to Covid has resulted in the largest Fraud in the nations history. Literally 10's of billions of dollars have gone to "schemers" who have found ways to easily divert this government money.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/ju...oting-covid-relief-program-known-ppp-n1279664
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Yes, because in panic some precautions and protection matters were lifted to get the money out as fast as possible ..... my state lost 600 million in an unemployment scheme ... yet only recovered half and pat themselves on the back....
they removed extra steps to detect the fraud and it cost taxpayers big .
 
dseag2 said:
There is no end to the grift that is taking place all over the world these days. I may not have numerous properties and luxury vehicles, but I have absolutely everything I need to be happy and I can sleep soundly at night. ;) I just never understand why people like this feel the need to commit criminal acts to accumulate "stuff". Peer pressure, I suppose.
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I know, all I want is a small newer manufactured home and I can't find that.
 
Remy said:
Crook, crooks and more crooks everywhere. Well she can drive her effing cars in prison. Bitch.

Just imagine our politicians.
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Big organizations are quiet susceptible to theft because they delegate so much and it's very easy to hide or lose track of an individual, incidents or knowledge of daily activity at the lower levels.

But this is exactly why businesses, colleges, government departments etc need surprise visits and audits. And practical procedures, processes and policies to prevent it. This scam should've been caught by the end of the first year even if lower level management and departments missed it when the college as a whole did their finances or taxes. This is why I think someone else at the very least purposely ignored it.
 
laws about property bought with money from crimes can be confiscated ....
in situations like this i think the school should get the homes/ cars anything of value... so they can sell and recoup some that was stolen ... waiting for any restitution that may never happen is insane.
 
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