Manor College's finance vice president led a scheme to use credit cards for lavish trips, fine dining, and other expenses, authorities said.MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PA — The then-vice president of finance for a Montgomery County college led a scheme in which the school was bilked over $714,000, with the money used for fine dining, luxury trips, a New York City apartment, and a country club membership, authorities said.Arion “Jonathan” Singh, 41, of Huntingdon Valley, while vice president for finance at Manor Colle...
Manor College's finance vice president led a scheme to use credit cards for lavish trips, fine dining, and other expenses, authorities said.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PA — The then-vice president of finance for a Montgomery County college led a scheme in which the school was bilked over $714,000, with the money used for fine dining, luxury trips, a New York City apartment, and a country club membership, authorities said.
Arion “Jonathan” Singh, 41, of Huntingdon Valley, while vice president for finance at Manor College in Jenkintown, turned himself in Friday, along with two others, after being charged with using the college's purchasing credit cards to allegedly steal $714,241 from the school, Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele said.
“This small college, where 60 percent of its students are first-generation college students, was taken advantage of by their trusted financial officer,” Steele said.
Also charged in the scheme are Sydney Loveless, 39, of Chicago, Ill., and Amar Persad, 46, of Cheltenham Township, on multiple felony charges, including theft, access device fraud, corrupt organizations, dealing in the proceeds of unlawful activities, and other offenses.
Authorities said that school administrators discovered in March that Singh had used college purchasing cards for unauthorized personal expenses and made fraudulent payments to two "shell" companies he set up.
School officials reviewed the finances and found $451,241 was spent on rent for a New York City apartment, a country club membership, fine dining, clothing, travel, airfare, hotels, entertainment, debt collection agency payments, and other expenses, authorities said.
He then got Loveless, his romantic partner, involved as the manager and registered agent of the "shell" company, authorities said.
Authorities said banking records showed numerous fraudulent invoice payments to unauthorized “shell” companies: DLW Professional Services Group/Professional Services LLC, based in Chicago, and 3D Electric LLC/Powered Electrical Solutions LLC.
About $215,000 in payments went to DLW Professional Services Group/Professional Services LLC., and were deposited by Loveless on the same day, authorities said. Manor College was also overbilled $38,000.
The three then laundered the money by falsely invoicing Manor College for more than $215,000.
They turned themselves in on Friday, were arraigned on bail between $250,000 and $500,000, and face a preliminary hearing on Wednesday.