Feds accuse Newport man of using school loans on drugs, motorcyles, games and tattoos

[dkf]

Robert Thomas Price Jr. borrowed about $105,000 for his tuition at Harrisburg Area Community College from 2005 and 2007, federal authorities say.

It doesn’t cost anywhere near that much to study at HACC, though.

So Price, 45, of Newport, is facing federal student loan fraud and mail fraud charges.

A U.S. Middle District Court indictment alleges that Price spent much of the loan money on crack cocaine, cars, motorcycles, jewelry, tattoos and video games.

U.S. Attorney Peter J. Smith said today that Price secured about $92,000 in private student loans and around $13,000 in federal PELL grants and Stafford loans. Price was aided in the alleged scam by his ex-wife, a former HACC employee who is not charged or named in the case, Smith said.

http://mobile.pennlive.com/advpenn/pm_106490/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=Sc4Azl8r

[Spike89]

1. At least he didn't waste it n/t

[Johonny]

3. drugs, motorcyles, games and tattoos is better job training than college

for the Mitt Romney economy. The man was just thinking ahead...

[Dread Pirate Roberts]

2. Two years at Harrisburgh Community College...

about the same tuition as Harvard or Yale (or any host of colleges)? Who would have thought that something like that would arouse the suspicion of the authorities?

[ashling]

4. I teach online at a community college

and each semester I can count on having a number of students in each class that register and then never show up after the first week.
The feds have issued stricter requirements for determining if a student is actually taking an online class for financing purposes.