Photo courtesy by WRAL-TV.
According to the arrest warrant, a former business and technology worker at North Carolina Central University (N.C. Central) has been charged with embezzling nearly $1 million from the school.
Kenya M. Ward, 44, is facing one count of felony embezzlement of state property. Multiple news outlets have reported that Ward no longer works for the university.
According to CBS 17, N.C. Central said they obtained an internal inquiry based on the misuse of funds Ward is accused of embezzling. The investigation concluded that nearly $900,285 was stolen from the university’s bookstore and food services departments “over a period of three years, from January 9, 2018, until April 30 of this year.”
According to the arrest warrant, Ward held a position as a business and technology application analyst/Eagle Card office manager. Ward worked in The Office of Business and Auxiliary Services and had access to the school’s bookstore, food services departments, and the Eagle Card office.
Ward was arrested just after 12:30 p.m. on Thursday and released from jail on a $1 million unsecured bond.
According to court documents, Ward appeared in court on Friday morning and pleaded “not guilty.”
CBS 17’s Crystal Price was able to speak with Ward after Friday’s court appearance briefly:
Price: “Is there anything you want to say?”
Ward: “I’m innocent.”
Price: “Do you plan to plead not guilty?”
Ward: “Not guilty.”
Price: “So you didn’t do this?”
Ward: “No.”
Price: “Do you know why they’re saying you did?”
Ward: “No.”
No additional information was released at that time.
Although N.C. Central officials believe they have conducted the investigation in its entirety, and the university appointed “an external firm to conduct a more extensive review and recommend additional security measures, procedural changes, or policy enhancements as warranted.”
CBS 17 also reported that the state’s audit office performed recent audits on North Carolina Central University. Still, there was no mention of embezzlement or misappropriation of funds in the audit summary.
The news outlet reached out to the state audit office, but they refused to comment.