By Chanelle Williams / Managing Editor
By Chanelle Williams / Managing Editor
Ross Godfrey Clark, 61, and Terry Lee Keiser, 62, both Riverside City College Applied Digital Media and Printing instructors, were arrested April 18 and charged with several felonies.
The Press-Enterprise reported on April 22 that after avoiding detection for seven years while using a company owned by Clark, Clark and Keiser were able to get approximately $500,000 in school contracts.
The scheme began in 2002 when Clark used the stolen identity of a deceased partner to shield his part in the company used to collect the funds, The Press-Enterprise reported.
An administrative audit was conducted in 2009 when Clark and Keiser’s scheme was uncovered, The Press-Enterprise reported.
An investigation was then carried out by the RCC police, police Chief Jim Miyashiro said.
The alleged Apple Government and Educational Systems (AGES), was used to purchase $471,796 worth in “computer equipment, software and machine repairs,” The Press-Enterprise reported.
Viewpoints’ searches on Google, the Web and printed versions of The Yellow Pages and the Better Business Bureau Web site did not find any record of AGES.
Clark has been charged with several counts of conflict of interest, theft of public funds, grand theft and identity theft, all amounting to 106 felonies.
Keiser faces three counts of theft of public funds and one of grand theft, according to the case file on the Riverside Public Access Web site.
RCC’s spokesman, Jim Parsons told The Press-Enterprise that both instructors have been placed on administrative leave.
Both were released April 23 with Clark, a $250,000 bail and, Keiser, a $25,000 bail. Their arraignments are scheduled for May 17 at the Superior court in Riverside.
After several attempts by Viewpoints to contact them via their RCC phone and e-mail, Clark and Keiser did not comment on the charges.
Attempts to contact the Applied Technology Department to get comments on the arrests and what will become of the classes taught by Clark and Keiser went unanswered.
Also, Parsons has made no further comments on the situation. For continuing coverage of this story go to Viewpoints Online.
