Drexel University Owes Government $189K Because Professor Blew Grant Money On Strip Clubs And Sports Bars
In an official press release from the United States Justice Department:
United States Attorney William M. McSwain announced that Drexel University has agreed to pay the United States $189,062 to resolve potential liability under the False Claims Act for a former professor’s use of grant funds towards “gentlemen’s clubs” and other improper purchases.
For ten years, the head of Drexel’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Dr. Chikaodinaka D. Nwankpa, submitted improper charges against federal grants. The majority of the charges were made to gentlemen’s clubs and sports bars in the Philadelphia area.
Besides iTunes purchases and expensive outings to sports bars, he also tossed that sweet, sweet grant money around at Philly-area strip clubs. Among those mentioned by the DOJ were Cheerleaders, Club Risque, and the Tacony Club.
At Cheerleaders he was probably just trying to connect with students.
But I’m not sure how he committed these financial crimes in Club Risque. (The place is crawling with cops.)
As for the Tacony Club, it’s a little more discrete because for permit purposes the ‘sex positive club’ describes themselves more like a ‘Sons of Italy’ or ‘Knights of Columbus’ type deal than ‘a fuck shack on the 2nd floor of a crumbling, old music hall’.
The government’s investigation began in 2017 after Drexel voluntarily disclosed the improper charges to eight federal grants for energy and naval technology related research that it received from the Department of the Navy, the Department of Energy, and the National Science Foundation.
Drexel disclosed Dr. Nwankpa’s conduct to the government and cooperated with the investigation to identify the full scope of the misconduct. Dr. Nwankpa repaid $53,328 to Drexel, resigned his position in lieu of termination, and was debarred from federal government contracting for a period of six months.
So for a whole decade Nwankpa was getting away with living a life of luxury & booty claps on the government dime, only had to pay back a fraction of it while Drexel covers nearly $200K, doesn’t seem to be facing any real punishment, and he will be allowed to work on federal government contracts again in six months. It’s a pretty crappy thing to do to the university he’s been involved with since 1990, and where he served as the Department Head of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
On the other hand… it is prettttty kewl stuff for a computer guy.
Ok but really, actually bad. Not sure how Drexel missed what was going on for so long, but this guy was clearly pretty smart. And extremely horned up.
I’m usually not one to wish ill upon anyone, and this is going to sound really harsh, but I hope… Lord forgive me… but… I hope no one ever gives this guy a government grant for energy and naval technology related research ever again.
Though it’s a safe bet there are ladies out there hoping the opposite…