Former Oberlin Instructor Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy and Stealing Government Funds
“embezzled grant money from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for Native Americans”
This guy may have to do his future social justice work from jail. What a shame.
The Chronicle reports:
Ex-Oberlin College instructor pleads guilty to conspiracy and theft of government funds
A former Oberlin College instructor and an activist for indigenous people pleaded guilty to stealing funds from the American Indian Education Center of Cleveland, where he was executive director.
Robert Roche, 70, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and theft of government funds in the U.S. District Court of Northern Ohio on May 16. His trial had been scheduled to begin this week.
According to the indictment, which was filed last summer, Roche embezzled grant money from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for Native Americans. The money was aimed at providing Native American communities with resources to support mental health and wellness.
Roche, who was an instructor of American Indian History at Oberlin College in 2005-06, was a proponent of getting rid of the “Indians” name and Native American logo at Oberlin Schools in 2006. He also has said the Cleveland Indians’ Chief Wahoo mascot is racist, according to an Associated Press story.
He spoke at an Oberlin City Council meeting last summer on behalf of his organization in favor of changing Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples Day.
The charges stated Roche “knowingly and intentionally” conspired to steal funds from this “Circle of Care” grant.
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Comments
What a caring progressive. They better watch out if he starts handing out blankets to keep them warm.
Unfortunately, govt aid to native Americans has a loooong history of corruption associated with it. The old western stock character of the bad guy who’s an Indian Agent wasn’t without real-world inspiration.