Two employees in the pediatric neurological research department at Columbia University were arrested Wednesday (December 10) for scamming the institution out of more than $200,000.

John Bzdil, the former manager of the pediatric neurosciences department at the university's Neurological Institute, and his wife, Heather Rinehart, will be presented with charges today (Dec 12) of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud, a press officer from the US Attorney's office, Southern District of New York, where the couple is being prosecuted, told The Scientist.

Rinehart formerly worked in the fashion marketing industry before working for Bzdil, according to the Columbia Spectator

The Federal Bureau of Investigation had been investigating Bzdil and Rinehart, suspecting them of submitting bogus reimbursement forms to the university for spinal muscular atrophy studies that were never performed, totaling approximately $112,500, according to a press release from the attorney's office.

The prosecuting attorney, Julian Moore, was not available for comment, according to the press officer at the attorney's office.

In addition, Columbia paid more than $84,000 for cosmetics and Amazon.com purchases made by the couple, in addition to more than $25,000 in charges from a luxury resort in Pennsylvania.

An unnamed supervisor in the pediatric department refused to provide The Scientist with any more details about Bzdil, Rinehart, or their work at the university. An ISI search of "Bdzil J" pulls up one neuroscience paper, from 2000, and three veterinary papers based out of the Czech Republic from 2000-2007.

Both Bzdil and Rinehart are charged with one count of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud. Bzdil is charged with an additional count of mail fraud and wire fraud. Each count carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine -- or twice the loss from the offense.


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