Paradise Valley Community College under investigation

February 08, 2013

Federal investigators are looking into possible fraud charges at Paradise Valley Community College. KJZZ’s Al Macias reports the probe is looking at whether students actually did community service work they were paid for.

Court records show investigators are looking into whether officials at Paradise Valley Community College falsified records including timesheets for student workers.

The investigation was first reported Friday by the Arizona Republic.

According to the paper, the audit found students in a federally funded program may have been paid for community service work when they were doing other work. Paradise Valley Community College is part of the Maricopa County Community College District.

Spokesman Tom Garipey says the district conducted an internal investigation of the program and the director, Paula Vaughn.

"After an internal investigation, disciplinary action was initiated against the director and Ms. Vaughn has resigned. We can’t comment on the possibility that some employees may face criminal charges," Garipey said.

Investigators say more than $2 million may have been improperly disbursed to more than a thousand students between 2007 and 2011. 

KJZZ is licensed to Rio Salado Community College, which is part of the Maricopa County Community College District.