A former West Virginia University (WVU) professor has been indicted on two counts of federal program fraud for embezzling university grant money.
Forty-one-year-old Xinjian “Kevin” He is accused of embezzling federal grant funds from WVU’s management and industrial systems engineering department where he worked as an assistant editor.
He is alleged to have used the money for his personal use to buy clothing, furniture, electronics and other items.
According to U.S. Attorney William Ihlenfeld, He embezzled $8,360 between March and November 2018 and $16,997 between November 2018 and November 2019.
The indictment was originally returned in 2020 but it was sealed by authorities after He fled the country. The former WVU professor was arrested this year on Sept. 26 in New York after he was caught entering the U.S. from Canada.
If convicted, He faces up to 10 years in prison on each count of fraud.