By Zoey Tincknell
The Scene staff
A former St. Louis Community College employee has pleaded guilty to 15 federal charges related to the theft of $7.5 million from the college and state of Missouri.
As part of a plea agreement in U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Missouri, Donald Robison, 57, of Ballwin, admitted to stealing the money over 20 years.
“From August 1998 to November 2018, Robison stole millions of dollars allocated for New and Retained Job Training Programs established by the Missouri Department of Economic Department,” according to an Aug. 14 news release from Assistant U.S. Attorney Lindsay McClure-Hartman.
Robison formerly served as manager of corporate services for the college’s Workforce Solutions Group. He was fired in April, after STLCC froze bank accounts, according to Kedra Tolson, executive director of marketing and communications.
Robison is out on an unsecured $25,000 bond approved by Magistrate Judge Patricia L. Cohen.
Robison allegedly created a fake company and paid that company for job-training services that the state had contracted with STLCC to provide. The services were never provided.
“It was out of our control,” Tolson said. “We couldn’t prevent it. … We are thankful he pled guilty. The only thing we can do is look inward to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
The federal charges against Robison include wire fraud, mail fraud and money laundering. Sentencing is expected to take place Nov. 12.
STLCC Chancellor Jeff Pittman couldn’t be reached for comment. He released a statement to faculty members and staff on Aug. 14, the day charges were filed.
“In late April, the College discovered it had been a victim of Robison’s fraudulent and criminal scheme,” it stated. “We immediately began an internal investigation and worked in full cooperation with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and FBI. We are grateful for a quick investigation and resolution in securing this guilty plea.”
Matt Fry, Robison’s attorney, didn’t return calls for comment. The Scene conducted a random survey on campus this month and found that many students didn’t even know about the multimillion-dollar crime.
The college filed a civil complaint in St. Louis County Circuit Court on April 30, alleging that Robison had stolen more than $5.4 million in state funds. Further investigation apparently determined the amount was much higher.
The civil lawsuit is still ongoing, Tolson said this month. “We will seek full restoration for our losses.”
When asked whether the state might stop contracting with STLCC for job-training services because of the fraudulent activity, Kedra said, “We are still continuing to partner with all entities we were previously contracted with.
“Our mission is to continue a solid education and a place for training in the workforce for our students,” she added.
According to the U.S. attorney’s news release, Robison set up multiple investments and bank accounts and spread out the money to hide his illegal tracks.
The retrieved stolen money will go back to the state of Missouri and college’s Workforce Solutions Group to continue job training for students, according to Tolson.
In the civil case, STLCC alleges that Robison committed a breach of fiduciary duty of loyalty, tortious interference with business relations and tortious interference with contract.