Former Official Pleads Guilty To Stealing Money From Southeastern U

TAMPA, FL — The former executive vice president of Southeastern University in Lakeland has pleaded guilty to defrauding the university of money, announced United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg.

Brian Carroll, 46, of Tennessee, faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. His sentencing date has not been set.

As the chief operating officer of the university, Carroll was responsible for financial operations and legal affairs. In 2016, when the university's board of directors wanted to rebrand its image, Carroll created a New Mexico corporation with a bank account and email address, and approved a contract for the corporation to carry out the rebranding project, said the FBI.

According to court records, over six months, Carroll's corporation received $180,000 from the university although the corporation actually did none of the work. Instead, Carroll hired a New York-based company to perform the work for $30,000.

The university's board of directors discovered the subterfuge and fired Carroll in early 2017.