Former Texas Southern University Professor Gets 6.5 Years for $921,000 Student Aid Fraud Scheme

HOUSTON – A former Texas Southern University adjunct professor has been sentenced to 6½ years in federal prison for a sprawling student financial aid fraud scheme that used stolen identities to submit more than 100 applications at colleges and universities across Texas.

Emmanuel Olugbaike Finnih, 43, of Richmond, sought more than $1.3 million in federal grants and loans during the approximately five-year scheme, according to federal prosecutors. The Department of Education ultimately disbursed $921,189.08.

Finnih pleaded guilty March 20 to theft of government funds, fraud, unlawful use or transfer of identity documents and aggravated identity theft.

U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen sentenced him to 78 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release.

Finnih, who was born in Nigeria and later became a naturalized U.S. citizen, was formerly an adjunct professor at Texas Southern University.

More than 100 fraudulent financial aid applications

According to federal court records, Finnih used the identities of numerous “straw students” to submit more than 100 fraudulent financial aid applications to the U.S. Department of Education.

He used other people’s personal identifying information to prepare and sign financial aid applications and master promissory notes in their names.

Finnih controlled mailing addresses, phone numbers and email accounts associated with the applications, allowing him to receive communications from colleges and the Department of Education, prosecutors said.

When financial aid refunds were issued, Finnih directed the money to electronic accounts, checks, prepaid debit cards and addresses under his control.

As part of his guilty plea, Finnih admitted repeatedly using the identities of two victims over several years to obtain federal financial aid.

Some victims were left with tens of thousands of dollars in student loan debt they had never requested, prosecutors said. The fraudulent loans damaged their credit and, in some cases, interfered with their ability to legitimately enroll in school.

Prosecutors say he altered women’s names to pose as students

Investigators uncovered another tactic Finnih used to impersonate people whose identities had been stolen.

Prosecutors said Finnih would sometimes alter female victims’ names to make them appear masculine while continuing to use their actual Social Security numbers and dates of birth. Authorities said the changes made it easier for Finnih to pose as the students.

The scheme also involved false transcripts, UPS boxes, bank accounts and fraudulent identification documents.

In one instance, a local community college froze financial aid payments after identifying fraudulent transcripts connected to one of the purported students. Finnih then called the college and attempted to have the funds released, according to prosecutors.

Authorities also found temporary driver’s permits and identification cards that Finnih intended to unlawfully use or transfer as part of the fraud.

Finnih was allowed to remain free on bond following sentencing and will voluntarily surrender to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility at a later date.

The Department of Education Office of Inspector General investigated the case with assistance from the Lone Star College Police Department, U.S. Marshals Service and U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad R. Gray prosecuted the case.