NYU Administrator Pleads Guilty to Stealing $400K From School

The phony receipt scammer is promised one to three years in prison and required restitution.

A former administrator for New York University’s chemistry department pleaded guilty on Monday to stealing $409,000 from the school.

In December, former budget coordinator John Runowicz was arrested for submitting fake receipts for reimbursement to the school’s Bursar office.

Runowicz fished out around 13,000 petty cash receipts from the garbage outside of Warehouse Wines & Spirits on Broadway over the course of six years, claiming them to be legitimate expenses for the chemistry department.

The liquor store labels on the receipts went unnoticed for years, allowing Runowicz to pocket more than $400,000. A student working in the Bursar’s office became suspicious of the activity and alerted the administrators, who then notified the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office

According to the Manhattan D.A., Runowicz pleaded guilty to second degree grand larceny, and is promised one to three years in prison.

Runowicz will also have to pay restitution -- the amount undetermined at this time -- and continue to pay any remaining amount from any money he makes in the future.

Sentencing will be held at Manhattan Supreme Court on July 14.

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