NEW YORK — A former Division III college basketball coach and administrator from New Jersey stole about $600,000 from the New York City school which employed him for 14 years, authorities said.
Former Baruch College women’s basketball coach Machli Joseph allegedly embezzled about $600,000 from the school.Baruch (N.Y.) College
Machli Joseph, 42, of Elizabeth was charged with one count of embezzlement and misapplication concerning a program receiving federal funds, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the the Southern District of New York said Tuesday.
Joseph, who worked at Baruch College until last year, was arrested Tuesday morning in New Jersey and was scheduled to appear in federal court in Manhattan this afternoon.
In his role as an assistant and later associate athletic director, Joseph was responsible for renting out the school’s gymnasium to outside groups. Instead of directing payments to be made to the school, Joseph arranged for the organizations renting the gym to pay him directly or associates of his, authorities allege.
He then used the money he took from 2010-2016 to pay for personal expenses, including renovations to his home, according to the criminal complaint.
Joseph was the women’s basketball coach at the City University of New York school on the East Side of Manhattan from 2002 to 2014 after briefly serving as the men’s basketball coach. He also worked as an assistant athletic director from from 2003 to 2011 and as associate athletic director from 2011 until August 2016.
Joseph faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
Baruch also ran afoul of the NCAA when he was coach. The Division III committee on infractions ruled in June that Joseph helped arrange $255,097 in impermissible financial aid and benefits for 30 student-athletes over a five-year period.
The Baruch women’s basketball team was banned from the postseason this year and placed on four years probation. The NCAA also gave Joseph a show-cause order for the 2016-17 school year, which prohibits him from working for a college in an athletic-related capacity.
Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
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