Former University tutor Jan Gangelhoff is expected to plead guilty in federal court today to a felony charge stemming from her role in the men’s basketball scandal, a WCCO-TV report said Wednesday.
The plea is expected to come in exchange for her testimony against other officials implicated in the scandal, including former men’s basketball coach Clem Haskins and former academic counselor Alonzo Newby, the report said.
Gangelhoff is expected to enter the plea to one count of misappropriating federal Pell Grant funds, one of several felonies federal prosecutors could have brought against the former tutor who admitted in March 1999 to writing more than 400 papers for at least 18 players between 1993 and 1998.
On that count, prosecutors will argue that by doing course work for former player Bobby Jackson, Gangelhoff ensured his eligibility and thus provided him with fraudulent access to federal grant money.
A federal grand jury is investigating whether former University officials committed mail or wire fraud in efforts to ensure players’ eligibility.
Jeanne Payer, a former tutor and Gangelhoff’s sister, will also testify, the report said.
Attorney Jim Lord, who represents Gangelhoff and Payer, did not return phone calls made Thursday.
Ron Rosenbaum, Newby’s counsel, said his client has not been approached about a plea offer and has not recently been in contact with federal investigators.
In an effort to pinpoint when the fraud in the program began, FBI and U.S. Postal Service officials interviewed Anne White, who was hired to tutor basketball players in 1988, two years after Haskins began as men’s basketball coach.
“They’re trying to date how far back this might have gone and who may or may not have been involved,” said White, now an advisor in the College of Architecture and Landscape Architecture.
The Federal Grand Jury
The federal grand jury investigating the allegations of fraud at the University is a body comprised of between 16 and 23 citizens, selected from the same pool as trial juries.
The grand jury serves two main functions.
The first is to act as an investigative body, gathering evidence through its power to subpoena physical evidence, documents and witnesses.
During that process, the group is led by government prosecutors, in this case officials from the FBI and U.S. Postal Service, who assist them in gathering evidence and advise them on legal issues.
The second central function of the grand jury is to determine whether the evidence collected warrants an indictment or criminal charge.
“Under the federal Constitution, you can only be prosecuted in federal court if indicted by a grand jury,” said Minneapolis attorney Andy Birrell.
It is unclear when the jury will decide whether to indict Haskins or other officials implicated in the scandal.
The grand jury investigation process and deliberations are not open to the public.
Todd Milbourn welcomes comments at [email protected]. He can also be reached at (612) 627-4070 x3234.
