By Joshua Phelps
The Scene staff
A former St. Louis Community College employee who admitted to stealing more than $7.5 million from STLCC and the state of Missouri is still awaiting transfer to federal prison.
Don Robison, 57, of Ballwin, has been in U.S. Marshals Service custody since Aug. 14, when he pleaded guilty as part of a plea agreement in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri.
On Dec. 13, Judge Stephen Clark sentenced Robison to more than six years in prison and ordered him to pay back more than $7.5 million in restitution, a $1.5 million assessment and a $125,000 fine, according to the U.S. District Court judgment.
“The FBI is pleased to be able to recover the stolen money to return for restitution,” stated Special Agent in Charge Richard Quinn of the FBI St. Louis Division in a news release from the U.S. attorney’s office.
“That said, we should never forget that for 20 years, Don Robison abused his position of trust to deny Missouri workers and taxpayers’ money intended for them. He will now be held to account by forfeiting his time and ill-gotten gains.”
Robison worked 27 years for STLCC and most recently served as manager of corporate services for its Workforce Solutions Group, which offers “programs and services designed to advance people, businesses and communities,” according to its web page.
Robison was fired in April after authorities froze his bank and investment accounts. He was accused of creating a fake company and paying that company for job-training services that the state had contracted with STLCC to provide over 20 years.
Robison is being represented by David Slaby, an attorney with Paule, Camazine & Blumenthal in St. Louis. Slaby could not be reached for comment.
“It’s our policy not to comment on pending cases,” said his legal administrative assistant, Phyllis Fernandez.
Robison is awaiting transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons, according to Lynzey Donahue, public affairs specialist for the U.S. Marshals Service. She said it’s against agency policy to reveal his location at this time.
“We don’t have our own facilities,” Donahue said. “We use state and local facilities to house our prisoners.”
Robison’s location will become public record after he is transferred to a prison. Officials recommended placement at the Federal Prison Camp in Yankton, South Dakota, according to the U.S. District Court judgment. It is an all-male, minimum-security institution.
STLCC Chancellor Jeff Pittman did not return a call for comment this week on the Robison case. Communications Manager Nez Savala responded to the inquiry by sending a statement by Pittman similar to one that he emailed to faculty and staff in December.
“It has been a difficult, frustrating and painful moment in the history of the College, but we will not let the situation tarnish the College’s more than 57-year history in the community,” it read.
“The overall impact may not be fully realized, but it’s unfortunate that we’ve lost employees, we’ve lost revenue, and that the credibility of the College and our reputation has been called into question. However, knowing that Don Robison is being punished for his crimes gives the College a chance to close this chapter and make progress toward the future.”
Robison was convicted on five counts of wire fraud, five counts of mail fraud and five counts of money laundering.
Judge Clark sentenced him to 75 months in prison, according to the U.S. District Court judgment. Robison must pay $7,594,254.45 in restitution, including $1,931,487.15 to STLCC and $5,662,767.30 to the state of Missouri.
The judgment also provides that Robison will be on supervised release for three years after he leaves prison.
Hart Nelson, STLCC associate vice chancellor for workforce solutions, did not return a call for comment this week on the Robison case. What could not be determined is whether the Workforce Solutions Group still is contracting with the state or if the college has made any changes in light of the Robison case.
Savala emailed the following statement by Nelson:
“The Department of Justice is working through the process for restitution, which could take months. The DOJ will determine the amounts to be returned to those involved. It’s important to remember that the funds that Robison misappropriated were intended for strengthening skills, retaining jobs and creating a strong workforce for the region.”
Robison stole more than $7.5 million from August 1998 to November 2018, money that had been allocated to the Missouri Department of Economic Development’s New and Retained Job Training Programs, according to the Dec. 13 news release from the U.S. attorney’s office.
“Robison stole program-allocated funds from both the Missouri Department of Revenue and St. Louis Community College,” it stated. “Robison subsequently moved the stolen funds between bank and investment accounts to conceal their origin.”
At the sentencing hearing in U.S. District Court, Pittman read a victim-impact statement to the judge on behalf of the college. After the hearing, Pittman emailed faculty and staff.
“Robison used his position of trust to misappropriate funds over 20 years,” he stated. “In doing so, he stole the chance for countless Missouri citizens to build careers, sustain families and provide opportunities for their future through workforce training and career skills. And, he betrayed the trust of colleagues at STLCC.”