{"72166":{"#nid":"72166","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Tech Terminates Employee in Fraud Case","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe Georgia Institute of Technology today announced that it has terminated an administrative employee who is under investigation for the fraudulent use of a state procurement card for personal purchases valued at a minimum of $25,000.  The employee\u0027s name is being withheld at the request of the investigating agency while the investigation is ongoing.\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0022We deplore this conduct,\u0022 said James Fetig, associate vice president for communications and public affairs.  \u0022Georgia Tech expects the highest standards of integrity from its employees, and we are cooperating fully with law enforcement.\u0022  \n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe fraud was brought to the attention of Georgia Tech officials in April 2007 by state auditors who were reviewing purchasing card practices.  The employee was terminated on May 4, 2007.  No other current or past Georgia Tech employees have been implicated in this investigation.\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech is reviewing procurement card controls to see if improvements or further administrative actions are needed.  \u0022The Institute has stringent internal controls,\u0022 Fetig said.  \u0022A review of the actions of the employees who had oversight responsibilities in this case is underway.\u0022\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech is insured against this type of fraud and will seek reimbursement for the stolen funds, and also will seek repayment from the employee.\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech employees are encouraged to report PCard waste, fraud or abuse at the Internal Audit anonymous hotline:  1-866-294-5565 or on the Internal Audit web site:  \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/secure.ethicspoint.com\/domain\/en\/report_custom.asp?clientid=7508\u0022 title=\u0022https:\/\/secure.ethicspoint.com\/domain\/en\/report_custom.asp?clientid=7508\u0022\u003Ehttps:\/\/secure.ethicspoint.com\/domain\/en\/report_custom.asp?clientid=7508\u003C\/a\u003E\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EPCards are widely used in business, government and higher education to provide significant cost savings over other purchasing tools.  A Visa purchasing card is the Institute\u0027s primary tool for purchases of non-equipment, business related items.  Cardholders must follow State and Georgia Tech purchasing guidelines.  The PCard provides significant cost savings to Georgia Tech while providing electronic control and accountability.  PCards may not be used for personal purchases.  The Georgia Tech PCard policy is located at:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.admin-fin.gatech.edu\/business\/purchasing\/0500218.html\u0022 title=\u0022http:\/\/www.admin-fin.gatech.edu\/business\/purchasing\/0500218.html\u0022\u003Ehttp:\/\/www.admin-fin.gatech.edu\/business\/purchasing\/0500218.html\u003C\/a\u003E\n\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":null,"format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":[{"value":"PCard investigation continues"}],"field_summary":[{"value":"The Georgia Institute of Technology today announced that it has terminated an administrative employee who is under investigation for the fraudulent use of a state procurement card for personal purchases valued at a minimum of $25,000.  The employee\u0027s name is being withheld at the request of the investigating agency while the investigation is ongoing.","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Georgia Tech terminates employee after PCard misuse"}],"uid":"27304","created_gmt":"2007-05-18 00:00:00","changed_gmt":"2016-10-08 03:00:50","author":"Matthew Nagel","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2007-05-18T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2007-05-18T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"related_links":[{"url":"http:\/\/www.admin-fin.gatech.edu\/business\/purchasing\/0500218.html","title":"PCard Policy"},{"url":"https:\/\/secure.ethicspoint.com\/domain\/en\/report_custom.asp?clientid=7508","title":"Internal Audit"}],"groups":[{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"}],"categories":[{"id":"129","name":"Institute and Campus"},{"id":"132","name":"Institute Leadership"}],"keywords":[{"id":"2367","name":"Abuse"},{"id":"2310","name":"Fraud"},{"id":"2368","name":"Internal Audit"},{"id":"2309","name":"PCard"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGeorgia Tech Media Relations\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ELaura Diamond\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:laura.diamond@comm.gatech.edu\u0022\u003Elaura.diamond@comm.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E404-894-6016\u003Cbr \/\u003EJason Maderer\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:maderer@gatech.edu\u0022\u003Emaderer@gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E404-660-2926\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["matthew.nagel@comm.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}