Manhattan Man Sentenced In Federal Court For Defrauding The Department Of Education Of More Than $1 Million In Student Loans

Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that FRANK HARRISON was sentenced yesterday to 18 months in prison for defrauding the United States Department of Education of over $1 million by submitting false documents in connection with his requests for financial aid as a graduate student.  HARRISON pled guilty on February 19, 2016, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ronald L. Ellis.  Yesterday’s sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Richard M. Berman.

According to the allegations contained in the indictment to which HARRISON pled guilty, other documents filed in Manhattan federal court, and statements made in court proceedings:

From at least March 2008 up to and including August 2013, HARRISON, who was a graduate student at a university in New York City (the “University”), submitted documentation to the University in order to obtain additional financial aid that was above the standard cost of attendance.  Specifically, HARRISON submitted false letters and other documents purporting to be from doctors, his landlord, and a University professor, which allowed HARRISON to receive more than $1.3 million in federal student loans.

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In addition to his prison term, HARRISON, 48, of New York, New York, was sentenced to three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1,170,694.

Mr. Bharara praised the investigative work of the Department of Education.

This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit.  Assistant United States Attorneys Katherine C. Reilly and Jason M. Swergold are in charge of the prosecution.