HOUSTON, Texas — A 43-year-old Richmond resident has confessed to orchestrating a large-scale financial aid fraud scheme involving hundreds of false applications, according to Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.
For nearly five years, Emmanuel Finnih submitted over 100 fraudulent financial aid applications to the Department of Education using the personal identifiers of others, stated the source. Finnih, who was employed as a professor at a local university, manipulated the system by controlling communication channels to receive financial aid refunds via electronic transfer, check, and prepaid debit cards.
Finnih also admitted to aggravated identity theft involving two victims, whose identities were repeatedly used to secure federal financial aid, according to the press release. He was found in possession of false identity documents, including temporary driver permits and identification cards, with the intent to further his fraudulent activities…