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Feb. 28, 2017 -- Westchester County District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino, Jr. announced that Tyrone Mushatt (DOB 11/07/72) formerly of 3563 Boller Ave., Bronx, NY, pled guilty today before Judge Barry Warhit to:
- one count of criminal possession of a forged instrument in the second degree, a class ”D” Felony and
- one count of conspiracy in the fifth degree, a class “A” Misdemeanor.
The defendant, a former head basketball coach at Westchester Community College (WCC), admitted possessing a forged transcript of a Westchester Community College basketball player and providing that forged document to St John’s University in an effort to fraudulently establish the eligibility of that player to enroll and play basketball at St John’s. There was no evidence to suggest that St John’s University was aware of the fraudulent activity.
Additionally, the defendant admitted that between June 1, 2013 and Oct. 15, 2014, he conspired to possess and turn over ten forged Westchester Community College transcripts of six basketball players to four colleges and universities in order to facilitate the transfer of these WCC basketball players to four year colleges and universities.
Those institutions include St. John’s University, Quinnipiac University, Concordia College and Florida A&M University. There is no evidence to suggest that these educational institutions were aware of the fraudulent nature of the transcripts in question.
The defendant either mailed, emailed, faxed or hand delivered the forged student transcripts to representatives at those schools.
The fraud came to light when the New York State Office of the Inspector General, the State University of New York Chancellor’s Office and the National Junior College Athletic Association all received information that this scheme was occurring. The United States Department of Education also assisted in the investigation.
Westchester Community College and the other colleges and universities named above were fully cooperative throughout this investigation. The New York State Office of the Inspector General assisted in this investigation, which was conducted jointly with the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office.
The defendant was arrested by investigators from the District Attorney’s Office on Oct. 29, 2015.
The defendant faces up to a maximum sentence of seven years in state prison but was promised a probationary sentence, if he avoids committing any further criminal activity.
Assistant District Attorney Stephen Ronco of the Public Integrity Bureau handled the case.
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In compliance with the Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 3.6, you are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
