An administrator for New York University's chemistry department was arrested Wednesday on charges he stole $400,000 from the school's budget by allegedly submitting bogus liquor store receipts.
Prosecutors said John Runowicz, 47, submitted 13,000 bogus petty cash receipts over a six-year period to line his own pockets.
Runowicz "scavenged" the garbage of Warehouse Wines on Broadway for discarded liquor receipts, then allegedly attached those receipts to his reimbursement forms, according to investigators.
He allegedly claimed the receipts were for legitimate business expenses including chemistry department supply purchases.
Runowicz is charged with grand larceny and falsifying business records and is expected to be arraigned in Manhattan criminal court Wednesday afternoon.
The Manhattan District Attorney's office said NYU officials alerted them to the alleged crimes after the school conducted a routine audit.
University officials said Runowicz had been fired.
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“The University is deeply disappointed that one of its employees would abuse the trust of our students, faculty, administrators, and staff in this way," said NYU spokesman John Beckman.
Runowicz and his lawyer Nick Mundy did not immediately return requests for comment.
