Volume 44, Issue 6. Today is
Probable cause found in embezzlement probe
In 2003, campus safety Officer Lynn Bray began an investigation into the disappearance of nearly $5,000 in MCC athletic department travel funds.
What Bray found led to an intensive audit of MCC funds that discovered about $7,800 in team travel cash and $1,900 in football game concessions missing. There was another $14,000 in cash that was not deposited for two months.
Someone has yet to be held accountable for this malfeasance.
Elena Manuel, a secretary for the athletic department at the time, was the prime suspect.
“My determination was that Elena was responsible,” Bray said. According to a supplemental report filed by Bray, the higher the level of control Manuel had over concession funds, the smaller the bank deposit.
In November of 2000 the deposit was $3,686, the following year under Manuel’s control there was no deposit.
In November of 2001, Manuel had no control. The deposit was $6,095.
“It is highly suspicious that Elena Manuel was the sole individual that would normally have custody and knowledge when AIA funds were missing or short,” said Bray in his supplemental report.
Bray also recommended that this investigation be forwarded to Mesa Police department for criminal prosecution.
The report was turned in to his superior.
At the time there was a lapse in the administration.
Vince Moran had been the director of College Safety, when the initial report was filed and the audit requested.
While the case was stagnant, Steve Corich took over the position.
On May 20, 2004, Corich was present at a meeting to discuss the audit results with Manuel. She simply turned in her keys and resigned.
Corich never forwarded the case for prosecution. He is currently in Afghanistan.
Kurt Conover, acting vice president of Administrative Services was in charge of MCC finances at the time. He declined to comment.
College Safety was also unable to locate the coach, David Rice, who has since been fired. Manuel had complained about his money handling procedures.
The audit also alleges that Allen Benedict, athletic director, took a woman to an out of state basketball tournament, on the college’s tab.
Benedict promptly donated $1,000 to the athletic department scholarship fund.
There were never criminal charges in his case either. He also still works for MCC.
In a quote published in the East Valley Tribune, from an e-mail written by auditor Jody LaBenz to a district lawyer.
Labenz wrote, “If we had to file a police report on this embezzlement …to move them along, it also wouldn’t look good in the Mesa Legend.”
LaBenz declined to comment.
To date, no one has been held accountable for the misappropriation of thousands of dollars in college funds.