Audit: NC Central administrator stole thousands in grant money

RALEIGH (AP) — A state audit has found that a high-ranking administrator at North Carolina Central University stole thousands of dollars in grant money, possibly to pay off his credit cards.

State Auditor Les Merritt said Tuesday the assistant provost improperly authorized $36,000 in graduate assistant contract payments to several people. About $15,000 in checks were actually
cashed.

The investigation said the assistant provost asked recipients to cash the checks, take a little for themselves and give the rest to him.

The assistant provost isn’t named in the investigation, but N.C. Central said that he has been relieved of all administrative duties. Merritt has referred the case to state and federal
prosecutors.

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