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Former WKU Professor Pleads Guilty To Stealing $236,000 From School

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WKU Public Affairs, via WKYU

A former Western Kentucky University professor has pleaded guilty to stealing $236,000 from the university. 

U.S. Attorney Russell Coleman’s office cited on Thursday a plea agreement from 52-year-old Matthew Dettman that says he devised a scheme to defraud WKU by diverting concrete and soil test payments from the school’s engineering department for his own personal use.

The diverted payments were furthered by interstate wire transfers. This occurred between 2006 and 2017.

Dettman pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Greg Stivers. He faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, a combined maximum fine of $250,000 dollars and three years of supervised release. As part of the plea agreement, Dettman will pay restitution of $236,000 to WKU.

Matt Markgraf joined the WKMS team as a student in January 2007. He's served in a variety of roles over the years: as News Director March 2016-September 2019 and previously as the New Media & Promotions Coordinator beginning in 2011. Prior to that, he was a graduate and undergraduate assistant. He is currently the host of the international music show Imported on Sunday nights at 10 p.m.
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