For Immediate Release August 12, 2008                                     
Contact: Corey Welford/Jessica Venezia 781-897-8325

Two Former Tufts Employees Arraigned For Stealing Nearly $1 Million From University

WOBURN - Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone informed the public today that two former Tufts University employees have been arraigned for allegedly stealing nearly $1 million from the University in two separate schemes.

Josephine Nealley, Director of the University’s Office of Student Activities between 1996 and 2007, and Raymond Rodriguez, the Budget and Fiscal Coordinator for the Office of Student Activities between 2001 and 2007, were arraigned this morning in Woburn Superior Court. The defendants were released on personal recognizance by the Clerk Magistrate on conditions including that they away from Tufts University and all witnesses. Nealley is alleged to have stolen $372,576 and was indicted by a Middlesex Grand Jury on July 1 on three counts of larceny over $250. Rodriguez is alleged to have stolen $604,873 and was also indicted on July 1 on two counts of larceny over $250.

The schemes were first discovered by a member of the Tufts Internal Audit Department who had received an anonymous tip. Based on a follow-up investigation, it was determined that Nealley had control over bank accounts associated with the Office of Student Activities. 

Nealley used one of these accounts to deposit student activity funds and would then transfer that money into her own personal bank accounts. She also used the account to withdraw cash and make personal purchases. Bank records indicate that Nealley used the  debit/ATM card to make purchases at:

Foxwoods Resort and Casino
IKEA
Whole Foods
The Disney Store
Talbots
Omaha Steaks

Over a time period from 2001 to 2007, Nealley transferred $63,500 to her personal line of credit, $91,000 to her personal checking account and also withdrew $174,908 in cash. In total, she is alleged to have stolen $372,576 from the University through this scheme. She was not authorized to take or spend any of this money by the University.

During the investigation, auditors also discovered that Rodriguez stole $604,873 from University student activity accounts. Auditors discovered that Rodriguez wrote himself a check from a University account in the amount of $100,000. He then deposited that check into an account he opened in his name, and used the money to pay credit card bills.

Rodriguez also opened numerous credit cards in his name and in the name of Tufts University. Rodriguez would use the cards to purchase personal items and then pay the credit cards with checks drawn from the Tufts University student activity account. From October 2005 to September 2007, Rodriguez is alleged to have used Tufts money to purchase:

Trips to Paris, Montreal, New York, Las Vegas, Chicago, and other destinations
Tickets to concerts such as Madonna, Celine Dion, Rent, and opera performances
The defendant is also alleged to have spent hundreds of thousands of thousands of dollars on luxury items such as wallets, watches, handbags, shoes, electronics, and home goods from high end retailers such as:

Gucci
Tiffany and Co.
Bloomingdale’s
Louis Vuitton
Hermes, Coach, and Prada

The defendants next court appearance is scheduled for October 1 for a pretrial conference.

These charges are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The prosecutor assigned to this case is Assistant District Attorney John Verner. The investigation was conducted by the Tufts University Audit and Management Services as well as the Middlesex District Attorney’s PACT Unit.

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