Center Director Admits Embezzling Funds

Black Issues in Higher Education, Jan 20, 2000

BATON ROUGE, La. -- The director of the University Center here at Southern University at New Orleans has admitted embezzling $27,000 in video game revenues. School officials immediately fired him.

Louis McMillion, who was responsible for depositing the money at the comptroller's office, says he took the money but did not know how much he had taken, according to state Legislative Auditor Dan Kyle.

Kyle's audit, released late last month, says that the center collected $39,312 from video games between July 1995 and September 1999 -- but only $11,622 was banked. Dr. Gerald Peoples, the university's chancellor, fired McMillion.

Peoples, who says the university has set up new checks and balances to ensure center revenues are properly collected, reported and deposited, says the case has been referred to the Orleans Parish District Attorney's Office for possible prosecution. The school also is socking to have McMillion to pay back the money.