Washington U. Business Director Charged In Embezzlement Scheme

ST. LOUIS, MO — Federal prosecutors say Barbara Skudrzyk, a former Washington University business director in the school's Division of Medical Education, embezzled more than $300,000 from the university over eight years, between May 2010 and July 2018, according to an indictment unsealed Monday. She is charged with six counts of mail fraud.

Authorities say Skudrzyk used the money for personal expenses, including jewelry, fine dining and overseas vacations. In addition, she hired contractors — cleaning and moving companies, painters, lawyers, and a flooring company — then created false invoices and falsified tax forms to cover up the crime, prosecutors said, making it appear the contractors were doing work for the University rather than her personally.

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The mail fraud charges stem from six checks, each for thousands of dollars, that prosecutors say Skudrzyk knowingly caused to be mailed by Washington University to these contractors.

As in every case, charges are merely accusations, not proof of guilt.

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