The director of financial aid for Merrimack College was sentenced Tuesday for fraudulently obtaining Perkins Loan funding for students over a nine-year period.
Christine Mordach, 63, of Methuen, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Patti B. Saris to one year and one day in prison. A restitution hearing is scheduled for June 22. In November, 2014, Mordach pleaded guilty to mail and wire fraud.
As the director of financial aid for Merrimack College, Mordach was responsible for administering the Perkins Loan program at Merrimack College. The Federal Perkins Loan Program provides low-interest loans to help needy students finance the costs of post-secondary education. The United States Department of Education provides Perkins Loan funding to each participating school, and the school determines which students have the greatest need and disburses the funds accordingly. Each school’s revolving Perkins Loan fund is replenished by ongoing activities, such as collections by the school on outstanding Perkins Loans the school makes. If awarded a Perkins Loan, a student must complete and sign a Perkins Loan promissory note in order to receive the loan funds.
Between at least 1998 and 2007, Mordach caused Perkins Loan funds to be fraudulently disbursed to Merrimack College students. Specifically, Mordach disbursed the Perkins Loan funds to students without a signed promissory note and without the students’ knowledge or approval. Through at least September 2011, Mordach took actions to conceal the fraudulent loans from the students, their parents and Merrimack College.
United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz; Brian Hickey, special agent in charge of the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Inspector General, Region I and II; and Scott Antolik, special agent in charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division, made the announcement Thursday. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristina E. Barclay of Ortiz’s Public Corruption Unit.
Incomplete journalism in this article. The media certainly can twist the facts by not reporting everything. The truth is that Ms Mordach did not benefit financially from this scheme. So what REALLY happened here?
Thrown under the bus indeed. The school should be accountable as well. Doesn’t seem right that she is the only one going down for this.
Makes no sense that Ms. Mordach is the only one taking the blame for this. Sounds like she was thrown under the bus.. Look deeper and see who else you find
Where was the audit department when all of this was going on? One heck of a note when one can’t even trust a college to “get it right,” and to keep track of the money.
Where was the president everyone is accountable. 9 years no audits no questions sounds like a frame job …