Inform, Entertain, Inspire
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

7 people charged with making fraudulent claims against MSU healing fund

The policy changes would also limit relationships between graduate teaching assistants and undergraduate students, as well as teachers and graduate students.
John M. Quick
/
Flickr - http://j.mp/1SPGCl0
The policy changes would also limit relationships between graduate teaching assistants and undergraduate students, as well as teachers and graduate students.
Credit John M. Quick / Flickr - http://j.mp/1SPGCl0
/
Flickr - http://j.mp/1SPGCl0

Seven people have been charged with making fraudulent claims against the fund Michigan State University set up in the wake of theLarry Nassarscandal.

They have been charged with 22 felony counts for allegedly fraudulent claims that led to them receiving more than $527,000 from the Healing Assistance Fund.  

University officials created the $10 million fund in 2017 to assist Nassar’s victims with the costs of counseling and mental health services. But after questions of possible fraudulent claims, the fund was shutdown.     

A university spokeswoman says none of the seven individuals charged have come forward publicly as Nassar survivors. They are not listed in lawsuits filed against the university.

In August 2016, the Indianapolis Star published an exhaustive investigation into decades of allegations of sexual abuse against Dr. Larry Nassar. Eventually hundreds of women came forward to claim they had been abused by Nassar.

Nassar pleaded guilty to multiple counts and was sentenced to decades in prison.

In May, 2018, a $500 million settlementwas reached between the university and survivors. 

Copyright 2019 Michigan Radio

Steve Carmody has been a reporter for Michigan Radio since 2005. Steve previously worked at public radio and television stations in Florida, Oklahoma and Kentucky, and also has extensive experience in commercial broadcasting. During his two and a half decades in broadcasting, Steve has won numerous awards, including accolades from the Associated Press and Radio and Television News Directors Association. Away from the broadcast booth, Steve is an avid reader and movie fanatic. Q&A