Published:
Seventeen Central students investigated financial crimes this academic year through the Community Based Forensic Accounting Crime Lab led by Professor of Criminology Dr. Julie Schnobrich-Davis and Associate Professor of Accounting Dr. Michelle Kusaila. The lab is a service learning project funded by a university Next Generation Student Success, Diversity, Innovation, and Community Engagement grant.
Students worked with state and local police detectives and investigators for the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney. Preliminary data suggests that the students helped investigate financial crimes worth at least $715,892 in Connecticut, with some crossover into Texas, Florida, Alabama, and Georgia.
The students later presented their findings to an audience of 350 law enforcement and banking professionals at the recent International Association of Financial Crimes Investigators Spotlight on Fraud XI Training Conference at Mohegan Sun.
The crimes investigated by the students include $147,253.98 in embezzlement; $113,283 in check fraud; $212,995 in money laundering; and $242,359 in fraudulent claims.